A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association examined people to see if they showed any signs of IRS (insulin resistance syndrome) involving major risk factors for Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Among 102 subjects who consumed dairy products more than 35 times per week, 24 were identified with IRS. In comparison, IRS was identified in 85 of 190 individuals with the lowest dairy consumption, fewer than 10 times per week.
a) Is this strong evidence that IRS risk is different in people who frequently consume dairy products than in those who do not?
b) Does this prove that diary consumption influences the development of IRS? Explain.