Mr. Kent conducts health research with children. Over the course of multiple studies, he has found that sedentary lifestyle in early childhood was correlated with increased obesity in late childhood. Mr. Kent concludes that all obese adults did not engage in enough exercise in early childhood. What is the most glaring problem with this conclusion?

a. We do not know how many studies he has conducted

b. We do not know the age range of early and late childhood

c. This demonstrates correlation, not causation

d. We do not know what defined as exercise

This demonstrates correlation, not causation

Explanation:

correlation is interdependence between two variable thereby meaning to say how one behave with change in other. If there is change in A be will also change or if there is change in B then A will change.

while causation is applied where Any action lead to consequences.

It means if A happens then B will happens but it is not necessarily true that if B happens A is the only reason behind it.

Here Mr Kent. has made a conclusion that sedentary lifestyle causes Obesity hence hence applied Causation to make conclusion for all adults and hence it wrong.

While it is given that sedentary lifestyle and increased obesity is correlated.

hence option C is correct answer.

c. This demonstrates correlation, not causation

Explanation:

Correlation is a statistical measure of co - relationship between two variables, their interdependent direction (s) of change. It doesn't establish any cause effect relationship between the variables.

Regression is a statistical measure, showing implied effect of independent (causal) variable on dependent (effected variable).

Kent's health research - relationship between sedentary & obesity : Concluding that - sedentary lifestyle in early childhood was correlated with increased obesity in late childhood. It implies that level of physical activity (exercise) is negatively correlated to obesity - higher physical activity (exercise), lesser obesity and lower physical activity (exercise), more obesity.

But above explanation just states about the co - movement of exercise level, obesity level. It doesn't state anything about cause effect relationship of obesity (dependent variable) being led by less exercise (independent variable) - as highlighted in statement 'obese adults did not engage in enough exercise in early childhood'