Were age and weights statistically different between the CIE and control groups?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Only weight was different
• D. Only age was different

Answer: (B)

When comparing two groups on continuous traits like age and body weight, researchers use statistical tests to see if observed differences could be due to chance. If the P-values are greater than the typical 0.05 threshold, we conclude there is no statistically significant difference between the groups for that variable. Here, age and weight did not differ meaningfully between the CIE and control groups because the tests did not reach significance, so any small differences could be due to random variation rather than a true difference. This suggests the groups were well matched at baseline for these characteristics, which helps ensure that differences in outcomes aren’t confounded by age or weight. Keep in mind that a lack of significance can also reflect limited sample size or variability; with more participants or tighter data, subtle differences might become evident.