Generalized Statistics, BOOOOO!!!!!

When I say generalized statistics, Im talking about someone telling you that “50% of people will get ____________ in their lifetime”, everyone should eat 2000 calories a day, for everyone exercise is more important than diet.  We are the most diverse species of animal on the planet; there is no other animal that has such huge differences from one member of the species to another.  Yet we constantly hear generalizations based on groups of people.  “A group of 1000 people over the age of 35 were surveyed and 50% have experienced a heart attack”.  A study is put together and then those numbers are publicized or taken as gospel by people, medical profession or not, and what happens?  Everyone over the age of 35 thinks they have a 50/50 shot of getting a heart attack.  

Why do I bring this up?  For this reason, it is important to remember that anything with science is almost never applicable perfectly from one person to another.  50% of the people in said study had a heart attack, does that mean that if you are over 35 you are automatically 50/50? Of course not, group statistics show 50% but if you pull an individual out of that group their risk will either be higher or lower than 50%.  

I hate generalized statistics because they don’t tell the whole story.  They lead people on the wrong path or make them feel awful about themselves or their situation when that number MAY NOT APPLY TO THEM PERSONALLY AT ALL!!!! So the next time that someone tells you that your chances of success are 50%, your chances of doing this or that are only 50%, that you only need 2000 calories a day because that’s what is recommended for all people, remember that all of us are different. Things that work for some will not work for others.  Don’t let group generalizations cause you to feel you have failed or have no control over your life.  The fact remains that the only person who can decide that is you.