In a study published in the July 7, 2014, edition of the American Journal of Medicine, it was suggested that lack of exercise contributed more to weight gain than eating too much. The study examined the current exercise habits and caloric intake of a sample of both males and females.
a. Was this an observational study or an experimental study? Explain why.
b. Identify the response variable and the explanatory variable(s).
c. Does this study prove that lack of exercise causes weight gain more often than eating too much?
d. It was reported that women younger than 40 are quite vulnerable to the risks of a sedentary lifestyle. Name a lurking variable that might explain this risk of a sedentary lifestyle for these younger women that in turn leads to little exercise and/or eating more.