Spurious Correlation

Spurious Correlation

A spurious correlation is the relationship in which two events or variables have no direct causal connection, yet it may be inferred that they do, and may be supported by the presence of a third, unseen factor (referred to as a “common response variable,” “confounding factor,” or “Lurking variable”).

Mark Frauenfelder suggested that owning a passport prevents Type 2 diabetes. By comparing Andrew Sullivan’s map of passport ownership and data on Type 2 diabetes posted at the US News and World Report, it can be suggested that passport ownership prevents diabetes 2. In fact, this correlation draws out a third variable: having the money to travel also usually means having access to healthy foods and sufficient health insurance.

Diabetes is a type of disease that is related to problems with the hormone insulin. Obesity and lack of physical activity are two of the most common causes of diabetes 2. It is also responsible for nearly 95% of diabetes cases in the United States, according to the CDC.

Our body is made up of millions of cells. To make energy, these cells need food in a very simple form. When we eat or drink, much of the food is broken down into a posted at the simpler sugar called glucose. Then, glucose is transported through the bloodstream to these cells where it can be used to provide the energy the body needs for the every day’s activities. The amount of glucose in the bloodstream is regulated by insulin. Insulin is always being released in small amounts by pancreas and when the amount of glucose rises to a certain level, the pancreas will release more insulin to push more glucose into the cells and the blood glucose level drops.

If our body stops producing insulin, our organs would fail to work actively. Consequently, the amount of glucose in our body increases in the blood and causes Diabetes 2.

It has been proved by survey that people who possess passports are more likely to be educated and wealthy. They have health insurances and take care of their diet and do medical check up on the regular basis. These people are least expected to have Type 2 Diabetes. Their body cells gets proper nutrition and their insulin works effectively as a result of which there are less chances of them to be effected by diabetes 2. Drawing on Andrew Sullivan’s map of passport ownership and data on Type 2 diabetes posted at the US News and World Report proves that those areas where people have passports are not only wealthy and rich but also have sense of responsibility of taking care of their body and there are less cases of Type 2 Diabetes.

Whether in relation to having the knowledge to keep a healthy diet or support a good health care, people that own a passport may generally afford a better lifestyle, since it is likely that they are better educated and have the money for these resources. In result, this may contribute to whether someone can maintain a good medical standing and how someone can ward off diseases like Type 2 Diabetes.

Work Citation:

“Type 2 Diabetes Causes and Risk Factors.” WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.

“Sociological Images.” Sociological Images RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2014.

• http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/guide/diabetes-causes

http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2011/03/18/illustrating-a-spurious-relationship-passport-ownership-and-diabetes/