Statistical analysis
The sample size was determined as 17 based on data values acquired from previous research with a confidence interval of 95 percent, power of 90 percent, and HOMA–IR as a key variable [Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used to examine variable distributions, and according to the intention-to-treat principle, statistical analyses were done using SPSS version 21.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Independent Samples t-test, Chi-square test, and Mann–Whitney U test were used to evaluate demographic and anthropometric data, physical activity levels, and dietary features of patients among research groups. To compare parameters among groups, paired samples t-tests or Wilcoxon signed ranks tests were used based on the normal data distribution. Endpoint analysis was performed on the intention-to-treat population using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), corrected for confounding factors, to see whether post-treatment outcomes in the intervention and control groups correlated with pre-test measurements. The R (4–2-2) programming language and its ggplot 2 package were used to create plots for the ANCOVA method. A 