The Recipe for a Top 10 Netflix Docuseries: Good Science and Exceptional Researchers
#Methods
Crafting top-tier science that earns publication in an esteemed journal like JAMA Network Open, then later finds itself featured in a Netflix Top 10 docuseries, is no easy feat. However, on Jan. 1, 2024, audiences around the world tuned in for the premiere of You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment, which highlighted groundbreaking research conducted by the Nutrition Studies Research Group at Stanford Prevention Research Center, directed by Christopher Gardner, PhD, the Rehnborg Farquhar Professor of Medicine.
While the study was intriguing with its use of twins, and the docuseries was compelling with its use of storytelling, the triumph of both the study and the docuseries can be attributed to the dedication of a small team of women researchers, led by the group’s associate director, Jennifer Robinson, PhD, who were all working behind the scenes, cooking up “good science.”
“When I think of ‘good science,’ I think of ‘good clinical practices,’ or GCPs,” explains Robinson. “GCPs are rigorously upheld in drug-based clinical trials due to the high stakes, but nutrition science and dietary research sometimes lack similar standards. Our aim in this study, as with all our studies, was to elevate nutrition research to GCP standards. We conducted a well-designed study with the appropriate safeguards, making it worthy of publication in a high-impact journal and coverage in a Netflix docuseries.”
The research compared healthy vegan and omnivorous diets in 22 pairs of identical twins and found that a vegan diet can improve cardiovascular health in just eight weeks. The study garnered significant attention, with over 250,000 views and coverage by hundreds of national news outlets. The docuseries has been watched millions of times worldwide, sparking critical conversations in both mainstream and social media.
“Having our group’s research featured on Netflix was the most impactful work we’ve done,” says Gardner. “We’re always trying to get people to eat healthier, and it’s always challenging, but we’ve been flooded with success stories since You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment aired. Utilizing storytelling to disseminate science has given us a new sense of what it means to engage the community to make impact.”
Who were the driving forces behind this groundbreaking study? Meet Tayler Hennings, MPH, Dalia Perelman, MS, RD, Lindsay Durand, MS, MPH, RD, and Diane Demis, whose dedication to conducting exceptional research helped change the way we understand our diet’s impact on health and the environment, all while captivating millions.
Twins Pam and Wendy participated in a Stanford study examining the effect of a vegan versus omnivore diet on cardiovascular health as well as in the Netflix series You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment. (Netflix)
Tayler Hennings, MPH
Study Coordinator Tayler Hennings, MPH, managed the study’s logistics from start to finish. She orchestrated everything from protocol approval to participant recruitment, tracking, and close-out procedures. She also ensured that the team upheld Stanford’s rigorous research standards.
“I am proud of how the nutrition studies team consistently upholds the principles of ‘good science,’ regardless of whether our work ends up on Netflix,” says Hennings. “Our adherence to Stanford’s rigorous research training ensured our study was scientifically sound and our results were reliable.”
Her favorite part of the study was recruiting participants from outside the Bay Area, which enhanced sample diversity and broadened the impact of the results.
“We had a few out-of-state participants who traveled to Palo Alto for blood draws,” Hennings shares. “To accommodate this, we used at-home sample kits, which required careful planning to ensure they were shipped back to us with their quality intact. I’m proud of this process, as it enabled us to recruit participants from beyond our backyard, leading to more diverse samples and reducing participant burden.”
Hennings hopes her work leaves a lasting impact. “I hope my work can empower people to make informed decisions about what they eat and the impact it has on their health and the environment.”
Dalia Perelman, MS, RD
Health educator and dietitian Dalia Perelman, MS, RD, led the health education team. She, along with health educators Erika Tribett, MPH, and Mandy Murphy Carroll, MPH, RD, conducted weekly educational check-ins with participants.
What Perelman enjoyed most about the study was defining and designing the diets. “We wanted both diets to be equally healthy to ensure optimal nutrient balance for both groups,” Perelman explains. “During the meal-delivery phase, we provided equal calories to all participants. We also taught them how to maintain these nutritious diets even after the meal deliveries ended.”
Reflecting on the broader impact of her work, Perelman hopes her work will inspire healthy-eating conversations. “I hope my work will help keep people excited about the control they have over their health and the health of our environment with their food choices.”
Lindsay Durand, MS, MPH, RD
Lead Diet Assessor and Research Assistant Lindsay Durand, MS, MPH, RD, was in charge of tracking and analyzing the participants’ dietary journeys throughout the study. Using state-of-the-art diet assessment software, she tracked what each participant ate over a specific period of time. Together with her team, Durand collected and analyzed 385 days’ worth of dietary data from participants.
“I am proud of our team’s meticulous attention to detail and consistency in collecting and analyzing high-quality data,” says Durand. “Everyone on the team transparently shared their progress, from data collection and participant interactions to overall study progression. This transparency ensured we maintained consistent data recording, leading to high-quality results.”
Working on this study enabled Durand to expand her passion for nutrition beyond individual treatment. “While my early career focused on treating symptoms in hospitals, my background in public health nutrition emphasized the importance of prevention. This research allowed me to blend both worlds, working on studies aimed at policy change and prevention strategies.”
Diane Demis
Diet Assessor and Research Assistant Diane Demis took on many roles, including participating in dietary assessments with participants, collecting and interpreting nutrition data, and managing and shipping blood samples.
Demis is proud of the team’s commitment to excellence. “We never settled for good enough,” she says. “Our research standards are incredibly high. We used a state-of-the-art dietary recall system, implemented systems and processes to triple-check our work, and stayed up-to-date on food and nutrition. We ensured our data were clean and reliable, making it valuable not only for our own research but also for others’ in the future.”
She is most inspired by the significant influence one study can have. “It’s very rewarding to see what impact our small but influential Nutrition Studies Group can have on the world of nutrition and on the world itself!”
Jennifer Robinson, PhD
“Thanks to these incredible women and their dedication to scientific excellence and rigor, we have entered a new frontier of science communication.”
– Jennifer Robinson, PhD
Driven by curiosity and a shared commitment to promoting healthier lifestyles, Hennings, Perelman, Durand, and Demis all played pivotal roles in the success of the research featured in You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment.
“Thanks to these incredible women and their dedication to scientific excellence and rigor, we have entered a new frontier of science communication,” says Robinson. “Through the power of storytelling, coupled with impeccable science, I can confidently say we’ve made a profound impact on public health. I could not be more proud of this team and the work they did on this study.”
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