N=1. What?!

#1

I keep seeing this “n=1” thing and I know it’s from statistics maybe. Or algebra. But what is it? What does it represent? I’m very confused.

(Karen Parrott) #2

n= 1 is self experimentation on a data set that total number is 1.

For example: My n=1 is that I need to get my fat ratio much closer to my protein ratio to lose weight, although I still stay keto because I 17:7 fast most days.

17:7 means I eat in a 7 hour window, water fast for 17 from 6am until 1 pm.

Another Example: My n=1 is that eating my food early in the day allows me to eat a few more veggie carbs. My glucose control is better that way, too.

n=1 means it worked for that person. One person, not many, not a controlled trial.

Reading n=1 is good, but the better part is using your own critical thinking to better your own health. Adapt what works and walk away from the rest.

(Siobhan) #3

It defines the number of people in a study.
So you may be reading a study/experiment and they say something like “n = 600, 300 men and 300 women”. The “n = 600” means the number of people/subjects in the experiment.
So “n = 1” (or “n of 1”) is an experiment or test where there’s only one subject (yourself).
For example, you might decide you want to see if dairy causes you to bloat.
So for 2 weeks you weigh every day and take measurements without dairy to get a baseline.
Then for another 2 you do the same with dairy.
Trying to keep all other factors the same.
After doing that you can draw conclusions about yourself from your “n=1” (self experimentation).

It’s helpful on keto because we are all special snowflakes and while some people might be sensitive to dairy or sweeteners or eggs or nuts, someone else in very similar circumstances might tolerate all of it fine.
So the best bet is to self experiment and draw your own conclusions about your body for yourself.

And yes, it definitely can’t be applied to a wide range of other people because the number of subjects is super low, but that’s the point. You can look through other people’s n=1’s to get ideas of things to test out for yourself, but you can’t exactly draw conclusions from the results of one person.

(Solomom A) #4

The sample size, or number of subjects, in your experiment is one, normally you. Euphemism for self experimentation.

#5

Ahhhhh, thank you all.
I thought maybe it was too early in the morning for comprehension. I think that was part of it. LOL
I get it now. :blush:

#6

Thanks for asking this!

(back and doublin' down) #7

thank you for this explanation! maybe this could be a pinned post because one of the first things that threw me off when I started reading was the reoccurring notation ‘n=1’ ~ then again, maybe it was just me. Appreciate you taking the time to fully explain.