Pattern analysis method for assessing successful weight reduction
Holman, S.L.; Goldstein, D.J.; Enas, G.G.
International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity 18(5): 281-285
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0307-0565 PMID: 8061720 Document Number: 422602
Researchers reporting on clinical weight loss programmes have been challenged to provide information about long-term follow-up. To evaluate long-term weight reduction, a methodology was developed for analysis of longitudinal data. Under this method, a pattern of interest is defined a priori, and the proportions of patients attaining the pattern are compared between treatments. The methodology permits objective summarization and statistical analysis of the data. Applications of the method and corresponding results demonstrate its utility for assessing the treatment effect on weight reduction and systolic blood pressure. To show that the method may be further generalized, suggestions for alternative types of patterns are presented.