Question

Over the years it has been said that coffee is bad for you. When looking at the studies that have shown that coffee is linked to poor health, you will see that people who tend to drink coffee don’t sleep much, tend to smoke, don’t eat healthy, and tend to not exercise. Can you say that the coffee is the reason for the poor health or is there a lurking variable that is the actual cause? Explain

Answer 1

We cannot say that the coffee is thereason for the poor health.

There is a lurking variable that is the actual cause: Type of occupation.

Suppose a person is employed as person in charge of a highly critical project, such as a chief doctor in charge of Emergency Department of a big hospital. The Doctor's job is full of tension and involves concentrated work even during nights. Thus, the Doctor cannot heva any time to exercise. To keep awake and be alert during hights, the Doctor may smoke and cannot sleep and cannot eat healthy.