2.9. Statistical Analysis
trunk FM, FM
In the primary analysis, changes in outcome variables were evaluated using two-way mixed ANOVA with repeated measures, with group specified as a between-subjects factor and time specified as a within-subjects factor. Normality was evaluated by inspection of quantile–quantile plots, data were checked for extreme outliers (i.e., values above Q3 + 3 × IQR or below Q1–3 × IQR) using boxplot methods, and the Greenhouse–Geisser correction was applied when sphericity was violated. Additionally, homogeneity of variance was examined using Levene’s test, and homogeneity of covariances was tested using the Box’s M-test. Most variables were approximately normally distributed, contained no extreme outliers, and met assumptions of homogeneity of variance and covariance. Exceptions, which included FM, trunk FM, arm FM, RQ, WC, and select nutrient and physical activity variables, were examined both by analyzing raw data and by transforming raw data into ranks and performing two-way ANOVA with repeated measures on rank values. In these cases, there were no material differences between analyses, except for kcal intake. Therefore, to aid interpretability, the raw data were retained and are presented, with Additional analysis of change values for outcome variables was performed using one-way ANOVA. Normality and outliers were examined as previously described, and homogeneity of variance was examined using Levene’s test. Most variables were approximately normally distributed, contained no extreme outliers, and met the assumption of homogeneity of variance. Exceptions, which included changes in FM, arm FM, VAT change, RQ change, and changes in select nutrient or physical activity variables, were examined both by analyzing raw data and by using the non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis rank sum test. In these cases, there were no material differences between analyses, except for the change in protein intake. Therefore, to aid interpretability, the raw data were retained and are presented, with Kruskal–Wallis output presented for changes in protein intake. To accompany the ANOVA test, GES effect sizes were calculated. However, variables arising from TFEQ, PSQI, and MFQ were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis rank sum test due to the ordinal nature of the data and were accompanied by eta-squared effect sizes based on the H-statistic. When a significant effect of group was observed, Tukey’s HSD post hoc test was used. Statistical significance was accepted at 