Table 3 Descriptive statistics of important anthropometric, dietary and behavioral variables tested, by age group.
Variables | First Age Group (12–24 months old) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â | Boys | Â | Girls | Â | P-value |
Anthropometrical | Mean ± s.d |  | Mean ± s.d |  |  |
Weight§(Kg) | 12.7 ± 1.8 |  | 11.7 ± 1.8 |  | <0.001 |
Height†(cm) | 85.4 ± 5.8 |  | 82.6 ± 4.8 |  | <0.001 |
BMI (Kg/m2) | - | Â | - | Â | - |
| Â | n | % | n | % | Â |
Underweight | 1 | 1.0 | 2 | 2.1 | 0.573 |
At risk of overweight | - | - | - | - | - |
Overweight | 16 | 16.8 | 12 | 12.6 | 0.380 |
Nutrient Intake | Mean ± s.d |  | Mean ± s.d |  |  |
Energy§ (MJ/day) | 5.35 ± 0.88 |  | 5.22 ± 0.75 |  | 0.312 |
(Kcal/day) | 1277.4 ± 211.3 |  | 1246.9 ± 178.5 |  |  |
Total Fat§ (gr/day) | 53.0 ± 13.4 |  | 51.4 ± 11.6 |  | 0.394 |
Total Fat (% of Energy) | 37.1 ± 5.2 |  | 36.9 ± 5.3 |  | 0.772 |
Saturated Fat§ (gr/day) | 19.9 ± 7.4 |  | 19.3 ± 5.2 |  | 0.672 |
Saturated Fat§ (% of Energy) | 13.8 ± 3.3 |  | 13.8 ± 2.7 |  | 0.910 |
Carbohydrates§ (gr/day) | 154.0 ± 26.5 |  | 151.2 ± 24.9 |  | 0.472 |
Carbohydrates§ (% of Energy) | 48.4 ± 5.3 |  | 48.6 ± 5.5 |  | 0.792 |
Protein§ (gr/ day) | 52.2 ± 10.7 |  | 50.5 ± 9.6 |  | 0.287 |
Protein§ (% of Energy) | 16.3 ± 1.8 |  | 16.2 ± 1.7 |  | 0.597 |
Behavioral | Mean ± s.d |  | Mean ± s.d |  |  |
TV watching (hrs/day)* | 0.55 ± 0.88 |  | 0.46 ± 0.80 |  | 0.671 |
L-VPA (hrs/week)* | 1.45 ± 3.15 |  | 1.05 ± 2.29 |  | 0.498 |
Variables | Second Age Group (25–36 months old) | ||||
| Â | Boys | Â | Girls | Â | P-value |
Anthropometrical | Mean ± s.d |  | Mean ± s.d |  |  |
Weight§(Kg) | 15.2 ± 2.5 |  | 14.7 ± 2.2 |  | 0.018 |
Height†(cm) | 95.4 ± 4.5 |  | 94.1 ± 4.5 |  | 0.008 |
BMI (Kg/m2) | 17.2 ± 2.4 |  | 17.0 ± 2.0 |  | 0.208 |
| Â | n | % | n | % | Â |
Underweight | 9 | 3.5 | 7 | 3.3 | 0.919 |
At risk of overweight | 48 | 18.6 | 39 | 18.5 | 0.973 |
Overweight | 36 | 14.0 | 32 | 15.2 | 0.711 |
Nutrient Intake | Mean ± s.d |  | Mean ± s.d |  |  |
Energy§ (MJ/day) | 5.84 ± 0.95 |  | 5.61 ± 0.91 |  | 0.007 |
(Kcal/day) | 1394.9 ± 227.5 |  | 1338.0 ± 218.6 |  |  |
Total Fat§ (gr/day) | 62.5 ± 13.6 |  | 59.3 ± 13.8 |  | 0.008 |
Total Fat (% of Energy) | 40.2 ± 4.4 |  | 39.7 ± 4.9 |  | 0.238 |
Saturated Fat§ (gr/day) | 23.1 ± 6.3 |  | 21.6 ± 5.9 |  | 0.004 |
Saturated Fat§ (% of Energy) | 14.8 ± 2.7 |  | 14.4 ± 2.7 |  | 0.075 |
Carbohydrates§ (gr/day) | 157.5 ± 29.6 |  | 152.5 ± 27.2 |  | 0.085 |
Carbohydrates§ (% of Energy) | 45.2 ± 5.0 |  | 45.8 ± 5.2 |  | 0.264 |
Protein§ (gr/ day) | 57.8 ± 11.7 |  | 55.2 ± 12.6 |  | 0.013 |
Protein§ (% of Energy) | 16.6 ± 2.1 |  | 16.5 ± 2.3 |  | 0.465 |
Behavioral | Mean ± s.d |  | Mean ± s.d |  |  |
TV watching (hrs/day)* | 1.20 ± 1.20 |  | 1.18 ± 1.23 |  | 0.527 |
L-VPA (hrs/week)* | 1.51 ± 2.63 |  | 1.21 ± 2.41 |  | 0.377 |
Variables | Third Age Group (37–48 months old) | ||||
| Â | Boys | Â | Girls | Â | P-value |
Anthropometrical | Mean ± s.d |  | Mean ± s.d |  |  |
Weight§(Kg) | 17.3 ± 2.5 |  | 17.0 ± 2.7 |  | 0.098 |
Height†(cm) | 103.0 ± 4.7 |  | 102.1 ± 4.6 |  | 0.003 |
BMI (Kg/m2) | 16.8 ± 1.8 |  | 16.6 ± 1.8 |  | 0.307 |
| Â | n | % | n | % | Â |
Underweight | 15 | 3.2 | 12 | 2.9 | 0.808 |
At risk of overweight | 79 | 17.0 | 84 | 20.6 | 0.173 |
Overweight | 90 | 19.4 | 62 | 15.2 | 0.106 |
Nutrient Intake | Mean ± s.d |  | Mean ± s.d |  |  |
Energy§ (MJ/day) | 6.04 ± 0.99 |  | 5.78 ± 0.99 |  | <0.001 |
(Kcal/day) | 1442.4 ± 237.1 |  | 1379.0 ± 237.3 |  |  |
Total Fat§ (gr/day) | 65.1 ± 14.3 |  | 62.3 ± 14.2 |  | 0.004 |
Total Fat (% of Energy) | 40.4 ± 4.5 |  | 40.5 ± 4.6 |  | 0.857 |
Saturated Fat§ (gr/day) | 23.5 ± 6.3 |  | 22.5 ± 6.3 |  | 0.024 |
Saturated Fat§ (% of Energy) | 14.6 ± 2.8 |  | 14.6 ± 2.8 |  | 0.779 |
Carbohydrates§ (gr/day) | 161.9 ± 30.1 |  | 154.6 ± 29.2 |  | <0.001 |
Carbohydrates§ (% of Energy) | 45.0 ± 4.8 |  | 45.0 ± 4.8 |  | 0.991 |
Protein§ (gr/ day) | 59.8 ± 12.7 |  | 56.9 ± 12.6 |  | <0.001 |
Protein§ (% of Energy) | 16.6 ± 2.2 |  | 16.5 ± 2.1 |  | 0.505 |
Behavioral | Mean ± s.d |  | Mean ± s.d |  |  |
TV watching (hrs/day)* | 1.89 ± 1.53 |  | 1.81 ± 1.32 |  | 0.780 |
L-VPA (hrs/week)* | 1.27 ± 2.52 |  | 1.09 ± 2.09 |  | 0.851 |
Variables | Fourth Age Group (49–60 months old) | ||||
| Â | Boys | Â | Girls | Â | P-value |
Anthropometrical | Mean ± s.d |  | Mean ± s.d |  |  |
Weight§(Kg) | 19.6 ± 3.2 |  | 19.2 ± 3.4 |  | 0.116 |
Height†(cm) | 109.8 ± 4.8 |  | 108.8 ± 5.3 |  | 0.006 |
BMI (Kg/m2) | 16.6 ± 1.9 |  | 16.6 ± 2.0 |  | 0.889 |
| Â | n | % | n | % | Â |
Underweight | 11 | 3.3 | 8 | 2.2 | 0.371 |
At risk of overweight | 55 | 16.5 | 75 | 20.5 | 0.166 |
Overweight | 63 | 18.9 | 73 | 20.0 | 0.704 |
Nutrient Intake | Mean ± s.d |  | Mean ± s.d |  |  |
Energy§ (MJ/day) | 6.18 ± 0.12 |  | 5.92 ± 0.11 |  | 0.009 |
(Kcal/day) | 1474.9 ± 295.8 |  | 1414.1 ± 259.7 |  |  |
Total Fat§ (gr/day) | 66.3 ± 17.1 |  | 63.9 ± 15.5 |  | 0.081 |
Total Fat (% of Energy) | 40.2 ± 5.0 |  | 40.5 ± 5.0 |  | 0.593 |
Saturated Fat§ (gr/day) | 23.8 ± 7.2 |  | 22.7 ± 6.5 |  | 0.070 |
Saturated Fat§ (% of Energy) | 14.5 ± 2.9 |  | 14.4 ± 2.9 |  | 0.948 |
Carbohydrates§ (gr/day) | 167.6 ± 44.3 |  | 158.9 ± 39.2 |  | 0.014 |
Carbohydrates§ (% of Energy) | 45.2 ± 6.4 |  | 44.8 ± 6.5 |  | 0.344 |
Protein§ (gr/ day) | 60.5 ± 15.2 |  | 57.8 ± 13.7 |  | 0.028 |
Protein§ (% of Energy) | 16.4 ± 2.5 |  | 16.3 ± 2.3 |  | 0.784 |
Behavioral | Mean ± s.d |  | Mean ± s.d |  |  |
TV watching (hrs/day)* | 2.31 ± 1.55 |  | 2.16 ± 1.45 |  | 0.167 |
L-VPA (hrs/week)* | 1.10 ± 2.42 |  | 1.17 ± 2.13 |  | 0.092 |