Higher Walk Or Run Distance Predicts Very Slightly Lower Body Mass Index Or BMI for Population
Contents
Mike Sinn
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Mike Sinn

Variables

A
Walk or Run Distance 891
A
Body Mass Index or BMI 2692

Categories

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Physical Activity 1719
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Physique 41

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High Confidence
Very Weak Effect Size
Negative Relationship
Population Study
cause image gauge image effect image
Participants reported a 0.2% average decrease in Body Mass Index Or BMI following above average Walk Or Run Distance.
Abstract

Abstract

Body Mass Index Or BMI was generally 1% higher than average after a total of 1530 meters of Walk Or Run Distance over the previous 7 days.

Aggregated data from 133 study participants suggests with a HIGH degree of confidence (p=0.129, 95% CI -0.177 to 0.168) that Walk Or Run Distance has a very weakly negative predictive relationship (R=-0.0045) with Body Mass Index Or BMI.

The highest quartile of Body Mass Index Or BMI measurements were observed following an average 395 meters Walk Or Run Distance per day.

The lowest quartile of Body Mass Index Or BMI measurements were observed following an average 4820 meters of Walk Or Run Distance per day.

After an onset delay of 0 seconds, Body Mass Index Or BMI is typically 1% lower than average over the 7 days following around 4820 meters Walk Or Run Distance.

Objective

Objective

The objective of this study is to determine the nature of the relationship (if any) between Walk Or Run Distance and Body Mass Index Or BMI. Additionally, we attempt to determine the Walk Or Run Distance values most likely to produce optimal Body Mass Index Or BMI values.
Participant Instructions

Participant Instructions

Walk Or Run Distance Automatic Import of Walk or Run Distance via Fitbit

A Get Fitbit here and use it to record your Walk or Run Distance. Then, A import your data here .

Walk Or Run Distance Automatic Import of Walk or Run Distance via Google Fit

A Get Google Fit here and use it to record your Walk or Run Distance. Then, A import your data here .

Manual Recording Option

A Create a reminder for Walk or Run Distance here and record it daily by enabling notifications or using A the reminder inbox here .

Walk Or Run Distance Automatic Import of Walk or Run Distance via Withings

A Get Withings here and use it to record your Walk or Run Distance. Then, A import your data here .


Body Mass Index Or BMI Automatic Import of Body Mass Index or BMI via Fitbit

A Get Fitbit here and use it to record your Body Mass Index or BMI. Then, A import your data here .

Manual Recording Option

A Create a reminder for Body Mass Index or BMI here and record it daily by enabling notifications or using A the reminder inbox here .

Design

Design

This study is based on data donated by 133 participants. Thus, the study design is equivalent to the aggregation of 133 separate n=1 observational natural experiments.

Data Analysis

Data Analysis

Walk or Run Distance Pre-Processing

Walk or Run Distance measurement values below 1 meters were assumed erroneous and removed. Walk or Run Distance measurement values above 175000 meters were assumed erroneous and removed. No missing data filling value was defined for Walk or Run Distance so any gaps in data were just not analyzed instead of assuming zero values for those times.

Body Mass Index or BMI Pre-Processing

Body Mass Index or BMI measurement values below 0 index were assumed erroneous and removed. Body Mass Index or BMI measurement values above 100 index were assumed erroneous and removed. No missing data filling value was defined for Body Mass Index or BMI so any gaps in data were just not analyzed instead of assuming zero values for those times.

Predictive Analytics

It was assumed that 0 seconds would pass before a change in Walk Or Run Distance would produce an observable change in Body Mass Index Or BMI.

It was assumed that Walk Or Run Distance could produce an observable change in Body Mass Index Or BMI for as much as 7 days after the stimulus event.

Statistical Significance

Statistical Significance

Using a two-tailed t-test with alpha = 0.05, it was determined that the change in Body Mass Index Or BMI is statistically significant at 95% confidence interval.

After treatment, a 0.2% decrease (-0.0057 index) from the mean baseline 27.3 index was observed. The relative standard deviation at baseline was 2.80602%. The observed change was 4081120000000 times the standard deviation.

A common rule of thumb considers a change greater than twice the baseline standard deviation on two separate pre-post experiments may be considered significant. This occurrence would have only a 5% likelihood of resulting from random fluctuation (a p-value < 0.05).

Data Sources

Data Sources

Walk Or Run Distance data was primarily collected using Fitbit. Fitbit makes activity tracking easy and automatic.

Body Mass Index Or BMI data was primarily collected using Fitbit. Fitbit makes activity tracking easy and automatic.

Limitations

Limitations

As with any human experiment, it was impossible to control for all potentially confounding variables. Correlation does not necessarily imply causation. We can never know for sure if one factor is definitely the cause of an outcome. However, lack of correlation definitely implies the lack of a causal relationship. Hence, we can with great confidence rule out non-existent relationships. For instance, if we discover no relationship between mood and an antidepressant this information is just as or even more valuable than the discovery that there is a relationship.

We can also take advantage of several characteristics of time series data from many subjects to infer the likelihood of a causal relationship if we do find a correlational relationship. The criteria for causation are a group of minimal conditions necessary to provide adequate evidence of a causal relationship between an incidence and a possible consequence.

Criteria For Causal Inference

Strength (A.K.A. Effect Size)

A small association does not mean that there is not a causal effect, though the larger the association, the more likely that it is causal. There is a very weakly negative (R = -0.0045) relationship between Walk Or Run Distance and Body Mass Index Or BMI.

Consistency (A.K.A. Reproducibility)

Consistent findings observed by different persons in different places with different samples strengthens the likelihood of an effect. Furthermore, in accordance with the law of large numbers (LLN), the predictive power and accuracy of these results will continually grow over time. 53041 paired data points were used in this analysis. Assuming that the relationship is merely coincidental, as the participant independently modifies their Walk Or Run Distance values, the observed strength of the relationship will decline until it is below the threshold of significance. To it another way, in the case that we do find a spurious correlation, suggesting that banana intake improves mood for instance, one will likely increase their banana intake. Due to the fact that this correlation is spurious, it is unlikely that you will see a continued and persistent corresponding increase in mood. So over time, the spurious correlation will naturally dissipate.

Specificity

Causation is likely if a very specific population at a specific site and disease with no other likely explanation. The more specific an association between a factor and an effect is, the bigger the probability of a causal relationship.

Temporality

The effect has to occur after the cause (and if there is an expected delay between the cause and expected effect, then the effect must occur after that delay). The confidence in a causal relationship is bolstered by the fact that time-precedence was taken into account in all calculations.

Biological Gradient

Greater exposure should generally lead to greater incidence of the effect. However, in some cases, the mere presence of the factor can trigger the effect. In other cases, an inverse proportion is observed: greater exposure leads to lower incidence.

Plausibility

A plausible bio-chemical mechanism between cause and effect is critical. This is where human brains excel.

Based on our responses so far,

0 humans feel that there is a plausible mechanism of action for a relationship between Walk Or Run Distance and Body Mass Index Or BMI.

0 humans feel that any relationship observed between Walk Or Run Distance and Body Mass Index Or BMI is coincidental.

Coherence

Coherence between epidemiological and laboratory findings increases the likelihood of an effect. It will be very enlightening to aggregate this data with the data from other participants with similar genetic, diseasomic, environmentomic, and demographic profiles.

Experiment

All of human life can be considered a natural experiment. Occasionally, it is possible to appeal to experimental evidence.

Analogy

The effect of similar factors may be considered.

Plausibility

Plausibility

A plausible bio-chemical mechanism between cause and effect is critical. This is where human brains excel. Based on our responses so far, 0 humans feel that there is a plausible mechanism of action and 0 feel that any relationship observed between Walk Or Run Distance and Body Mass Index Or BMI is coincidental.

Relationship Statistics

Property Value
Cause Variable Name Walk Or Run Distance
Effect Variable Name Body Mass Index Or BMI
Sinn Predictive Coefficient 0.0022499961355329
Confidence Level HIGH
Confidence Interval 0.17215776422374
Forward Pearson Predictive Coefficient -0.0045
Critical T Value 1.6586842105263
Total Walk Or Run Distance Over Previous 7 days Before ABOVE Average Body Mass Index Or BMI 395 meters
Total Walk Or Run Distance Over Previous 7 days Before BELOW Average Body Mass Index Or BMI 4820 meters
Duration of Action 7 days
Effect Size very weakly negative
Number of Paired Measurements 53041
Optimal Pearson Product 0.091394973959814
P Value 0.12921487479381
Statistical Significance 0.8538
Strength of Relationship 0.17215776422374
Study Type population
Analysis Performed At 2022-08-10
Number of Participants 133

Walk or Run Distance Info

Property Value
Variable Name Walk Or Run Distance
Aggregation Method SUM
Analysis Performed At 2020-09-11
Duration of Action 7 days
Kurtosis 18.843598392696
Maximum Allowed Value 175000 meters
Mean 3558.0042632859 meters
Median 3158.90008036 meters
Minimum Allowed Value 1 meters
Number of Aggregate Predictors 642
Number of Aggregate Outcomes 249
Number of Measurements 123085
Number of Measurements (including those generated by tagged, joined, or child variables) 87104
Public true
Onset Delay 0 seconds
Standard Deviation 2361.166855319
Unit Meters
User Variables 378
UPC 744960759935
Variable Category Physical Activity
Variable ID 1304
Variance 9674812.3231088

Body Mass Index or BMI Info

Property Value
Variable Name Body Mass Index Or BMI
Aggregation Method MEAN
Analysis Performed At 2021-06-16
Duration of Action 24 hours
Kurtosis 4.6678481105674
Maximum Allowed Value 100 index
Mean 26.984663101604 index
Median 26.990417112299 index
Minimum Allowed Value 0 index
Number of Aggregate Predictors 2209
Number of Aggregate Outcomes 483
Number of Measurements 5630
Number of Measurements (including those generated by tagged, joined, or child variables) 5630
Public true
Onset Delay 0 seconds
Standard Deviation 0.64882537447662
Unit Index
User Variables 201
UPC 712038762439
Variable Category Physique
Variable ID 1272
Variance 0.96780958506941