[ 293 ] Life Science GED ® TEST SCIENCE FLASH REVIEW • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Refer to the following passage to answer the next 12 questions. Today, about 30% of the children in the United States are overweight or obese. This puts them at increased risk for diseases such as diabetes (measured by fasting glucose levels) and heart disease (due to high cholesterol levels). The local county health department wants to improve the health of the young children in the community. Most research indicates that changing diet and exercise is the best way to reduce obesity in children, but they suspect that children may not be willing to change both diet and exercise. First, identify what variables will be tested and what variables should be controlled. Should all the children be placed in a program of diet and exercise? First, identify what variables will be tested and what variables should be controlled. Should both diet and exercise be only tested together? The county health department undertakes a new program to encourage children to eat better and exercise. They enroll 200 children in a six-month program and plan to set up three groups: • Group 1: Diet and exercise • Group 2: Diet only • Group 3: Exercise only The county health department hypothesizes that the children in the diet and exercise group will have the best outcomes. Should one child participate in dieting and exercising longer than the other experimental children?