The paper Supervised Exercise Versus Non- Supervised Exercise for Reducing Weight in Obese Adults (The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness [2009]: 85 90)

The paper €œSupervised Exercise Versus Non- Supervised Exercise for Reducing Weight in Obese Adults€ (The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness [2009]: 85€“ 90) describes an experiment in which participants were randomly assigned either to a supervised exercise program or a control group. Those in the control group were told that they should take measures to lose weight. Those in the supervised exercise group were told they should take measures to lose weight as well, but they also participated in regular supervised exercise sessions. Weight loss at the end of four months was recorded. Data consistent with summary quantities given in the paper are shown in the accompanying table.

Do these data provide evidence that the supervised exercise treatment results in a significantly greater mean weight loss than the treatment that just involves advising people to lose weight?

Experimental Group Group Welght LosS (in kg) stze Supervised 17 11 4.8 4.1 9.1 2.2 o8 99 2.1 54 10.3 -3.7 134 3.5 2.9 112 Exercise 9.5 5.1 17 67 7.6 2.3-2. 1.9 5.4 1.0 3.6 4.9-0.7 L3 2.2 2.1 0.6 1.3 Control 13 5.4