Effectiveness of Diets and Exercises in Losing Weight (Research Paper Sample)

Effectiveness of Diets and Exercises in Losing Weight
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Introduction
The study seeks to compare the amount of weight loss by either following a dietary weight loss program or through following weight loss exercises. In this study, two groups of individuals were selected. One group comprised of overweight people who preferred following a dietary program in order to cut excess weight. Another group of individuals preferred doing exercises to cut excess weight.
The results of the two groups were then analyzed after five months to check the effectiveness of each method used. Two samples were taken from each group. In the first one, a sample of 11 people was taken from the group that preferred dietary programs. The second sample included 12 people from the group that preferred doing exercises to cut excess weight.
The main objective of the study is to determine the most effective method of weight management program. Therefore, the study seeks to answer the question: What weight loss program will result to more excess weight loss within the five month period?
To answer this question, a test hypothesis was formulated. The first step involved the setting of the null and the alternative hypothesis (Casella & Berger, 2002). The null hypothesis was that there was no difference in the mean weight loss between the two groups. I.e. population mean difference = 0. The alternative hypothesis in this case was that there was a significant difference in weight loss between the two groups. This means that the mean difference ≠ 0.
After setting the hypothesis, a test statistic was formulated from the data collected. This was then followed by the determination of the respective p-value. Finally, the interpretation of the results from the p-value aided in making the final decision that showed the most effective weight loss program.
Analysis of the Data
We are going to use the t - Test to perform the analysis of the data. The t-Test is applicable to this situation because it usually compares the means of two given data while considering the variation that exists between them (Casella & Berger, 2002). The comparison of the variance between the two means is then used to make decisions.
After the data collection has been done, analysis of the data using the test statistic will be done using the procedures outlined in the example below:
A typical Example to Show the Application of t-Test in Statistical Analysis
The following information is a sample data obtained for the two groups:
VariableDieters GroupExercises Group
Size (n) 1112
Mean 5.284.79
Standard deviation (sd) 0.6705490.4889
Standard error (sem) 0.67054911 = 0.200.488912 = 0.14
We then calculate the measure of variability as follows:
‚ [(0.20)2 + (0.14)2] = 0.24
Testing the Hypothesis
First, we set the null hypothesis that there is difference in the average weight loss between the two groups. I.e.
H: u =0
The alternative here is that there is a significant difference in the average weight loss between the two groups after the five month period. I.e
H: A>0
We will then perform the t-Test as follows:
5.28-4.790.24 = 0.490.24 = 2.04
From the standard normal table:
Given that the initial problem was a two sided test, we will then proceed as follows:
P-value = 2 *(value above 2.04 in the bell shaped curve).
P-value = 2* (1- 0.9793) = 2* 0.0207 = 0.0414
Now that we have 0.0414 which is less than or equal to 0.05, then it implies that we will reject the null hypothesis because it doesn’t hold.
Conclusion: There exists a significant level of difference between the loss of weight caused by a dietary program and weight loss due to exercises within a five month period. Therefore, we reject the null hypothesis.