a. Evaluate the appropriateness and thoroughness of the data analysis procedures, and clarity of the results presentation. Do not become overly concerned about technical statistical aspects of the analysis.
To evaluate the statistical significance, they used a p-value of .05 and a power of 80%. This allowed them to calculate how many participants in each group they needed to show a potential rejection of the null hypothesis. TAlthough a p-value .05 is arbitrarily set, it is the standard for must studies and therefore appropriate for this one. The authors also used the p-value and power level to determine the population needed and account for a 25% loss of participant rate. Data collection at baseline was done consistently. The authors used the mean as the central tendency which seems appropriate because logically people who weigh different amounts are going to lose weight proportionally. There is also a level of thoroughness that is evident by preforming the statistical analysis at multiple intervals. Had the authors only compared baseline to 12 months they could have missed a trend such as the change in total cholesterol. There was a decrease in total cholesterol at 3 and 6 months but by 12 months it was almost similar to baseline.
h. Evaluate the discussion of results and the conclusions of the study.
The result section of this article was clear and concise in most subsection. The authors were deceptive in the description in the waist circumference because they said the circumference for the low carbohydrate diet was “more favorable,” which is an opinion because the p-value for month six for that factor was .053. The authors did not insert other opinions in the other sections of the results.
The discussion was or...
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... more diverse location, or another study with more men or other demographics.
k. How would you summarize and explain the results of this study to a patient/family?
This study conducted in 2012, compared a low fat diet and a low carbohydrate diet when it comes to reducing risk factors of heart disease. For people without diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease there is decrease in risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as weight, bad cholesterol levels, and blood pressure with a low-carbohydrate diet. There are limitations to this study including things like the participants were counseled extensively on their diet, the study was only around 150 people, and only conducted for a year. This diet isn’t as cure for cardiovascular disease or weight loss, but with appropriate exercise, applying this research to your daily life may show benefit.
In response to the question set, I will go into detail of the study, consisting of the background, main hypotheses, as well the aims, procedure and results gathered from the study; explaining the four research methods chosen to investigate, furthering into the three methods actually tested.
The Ornish diet, a meal plan that emphasizes the consumption of carbohydrates over fats, is an unsafe plan despite its claims to being a safe and effective way to prevent heart disease1 – a claim only a balanced diet can make. Because the Ornish diet cuts out a large number of foods from a person’s meal, many beneficial nutrients are missing that would normally be in a balanced diet. In addition, recent studies have found that diets containing a larger than recommended amount of carbohydrates may actually increase a person’s chances of developing intestinal and breast cancers2. These findings show that despite any benefits the Ornish diet may provide to the heart, the complications of maintaining a high carbohydrate diet make it not nearly as safe as a balanced diet.
The less severe disadvantages surrounding the diet consist of physical weakness, low energy level, slower reaction times, headaches, and dehydration. These less dangerous, yet clearly relevant reactions are due to the elimination of carbohydrates from the diet. Blood sugar levels become very low when carbohydrates are not ingested, causing physical pain and weakness as well as a slower reaction time. Headaches also occur as a natural response mechanism that act as signals for the body that carbohydrates are needed in order to prevent further problems. Moreover, when the body breaks down stored fats t...
One study found that low carb diets reduce markers of endothelial function. (Davis, et al., 2011) Endothelial function is associated with an increase in cardiovascular disease. (Davis, et al., 2011) Also low carb diets show a short term improvement in cardiovascular risk factors such as insulin resistance and HDL cholesterol. (Friedman, et al., 2012) These studies indicate that short term low carb diets are beneficial in reducing cardiovascular disease.
In contrast with the “good fat”, there is also a negative, which is the “bad fat”. Saturated fat, which is considered the “bad fat”, has been linked to high cholesterol and heart disease. It is mostly found in milk and other milk products. Therefore, the low fat diet encourages its participants to reduce saturated fat for it is the main cause of high cholesterol level. On the other hand, even though low carbohydrate diets do not state that carbohydrates are bad; they do state that it causes weight gain; this idea gives most Americans that it is bad because it causes a person to gain weight.
This paper addresses a currently relevant topic of detection of associations of copy number polymorphism with traits and will be of interest to readers of Genetics Research.
Diets consisting of a balance between complex carbohydrates and good proteins bring the best results in weight loss, despite a slower result than low carbohydrate diets such as the Atkins diet. Weight loss is accomplished by burning more calories than one consumes. With regards to calories, there are two approaches between the two diets being examined that lead to weight loss. The logic behind the Atkins diet is that by eating fewer carbohydrates, insulin levels remain at a steadier degree and cravings are subsided, thereby causing people to consume fewer calories and in turn lose weight. Despite the loss in weight however, the substitutes for these simple carbohydrates recommended by the Atkins diet are high fat, high protein foods such as butter, cheese, and meats. These foods although when eaten exclusively can lead to weight loss, there are other health problems associated with this method of dieting. An alternative to substituting simple carbohydrates with high ...
A study done by (Fitzwater SL et al, 1991) consisted of 18 individual and group counseling meetings over 7 months. They tried to get overweight individuals to eat a low energy dense diet consisting of high amounts of fruit and vegetables. The results shown that the subjects had lost an average of 7.3kg 53% of the participants continued to maintain this and continue to lose weight over 2 years. However this study didn’t include a comparison or control group or detailed food intake information, it does state that consuming a diet which is rich in low energy dense foods is an effective strategy for weight loss and maintenance. Also additional evidence supports the diets rich in low energy dense foods. A study done by (Epstein LH et al, 2001) shows how low energy diets can lead to weight loss.
These studies provide evidence that in the short term, a low-carbohydrate diet helped people lose weight without any adverse effects. In the last decade, several leading nutritional scientists have taken the short term and long term side effects into consideration. They have begun to think that the low carb diet may be partly right about losing weight, and scientists are now finally studying whether low-fat diets really work. From comparing these studies it can be concluded that both diets do efficiently “work,” they just affect the body in different ways, with different side effects…and in the end produce similar results: giving up on the diet and being heavy again.
a long-term weight reducing diet." International Journal of Obesity & Related Metabolic Disorders. 21(1):14-21, 1997 Jan.
In order to obtain an A in this examination, students will demonstrate an in-depth understanding of each of the analyses. These analyses will typically include at least one of the more complex analyses (e.g., M...
The data collected will be analysed and interpreted. The summary of the findings, suggestions and the conclusion will be given in the report.
3. National Task Force on the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity, National Institutes of Health. Very low-calorie diets. Journal of the American Medical Association. 1993;270:967-974.
Do you ever know, the percent of adults who are obese in the United States is 34.9% now, and it was continuously getting larger in the recent years (CDC)? What a surprise that more than 1 out of 3 adults are obese in our country. Obesity can cause various health problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, Coronary heart disease, or even directly cause death. So, it is time to control and prevent obesity. Exercise is a good and normal way to lose weight, but Melinda Moyer discusses about another way, reducing the gain of carbs in people’s daily lives. She leads readers to explore the relation between carbs-rich diet and obesity or chronic disease. Even though some other theories like low-fat diet was supported in the history, more facts
Many scientists and experts in their fields are debating over whether a low-carbohydrate diet is suitable to be used than a high – carbohydrate diet. Carbohydrates are not a popular food type in the diet because grains which are carbohydrates contain gluten and gluten is known to be inflammatory and affects the body’s blood sugar levels. This results in weight gain and the struggle to maintain weight. Grains also contain an acid called phytic acid meaning that the body can not absorb much of calcium, iron and magnesium. The lack of iron, calcium and magnesium means that you are at a high risk of bone related diseases such as