Statistical analysis
adiposity
ADIPOSITY
The primary aim of the DIRECT-PLUS randomized controlled trial was to explore the effects of the interventions on weight and adiposity (Continuous variables are presented as mean ± standard deviation and categorical variables are presented as percentages. Variables were tested for normal distribution using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Baseline characteristics of the study population were analyzed across sex-specific tertiles of baseline FMC; we tested for trend using the kendall tau test. Correlations were evaluated using Pearson’s or Spearman’s correlation tests based on the distribution of the variables (normal vs. non-normal). 5 participants were lacking FMC at baseline and were not included in further analysis (n=289). VAT were expressed as proportions out of abdominal adipose tissue depots assessed (I.e., Deep-subcutaneous fat, superficial-subcutaneous fat and visceral adipose fat); this was to genuinely reflect the abundancy of each fat layer, irrespective of total adipose tissue. IHF was assessed using H-MRS as elaborated in 