A study reports that the correlation coefficient (r) between serum cholesterol and BMI is +0.62 (p < 0.001). What does this indicate?

• A 62% of variance in serum cholesterol is explained by BMI
• B Increasing BMI causes an increase in serum cholesterol
• C A one-unit increase in BMI increases serum cholesterol by 0.62 units
• D There is a moderate positive linear association between serum cholesterol and BMI ✓

Explanation

A Pearson r of +0.62 indicates a moderate positive linear correlation — as BMI increases, serum cholesterol tends to increase. Correlation does not imply causation. The proportion of variance explained is r² = 0.62² = 0.38 (38%), not 62%. The regression coefficient (slope), not r, quantifies the change in outcome per unit change in predictor.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

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