Table 1 Sex-specific characteristics of study population across phases I, III, and V

 Weight (kg)

75.2 ± 12.3

78.9 ± 13.2

80.5 ± 14.3

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

 WC (cm)

88.8 ± 10.9

96.4 ± 10.1

97.8 ± 10.4

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

 BMI (kg/m²)

26.0 ± 3.9

27.2 ± 4.0

27.5 ± 4.3

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

 Smoking (non-smokers)

1516 (75.4)

1549 (77.8)

1609 (79.7)

0.006

0.011

< 0.001

 Physical activity (active) ^b

408 (20.3)

228 (19.6)

208 (19.4)

0.431

> 0.999

> 0.999

 Marital status (married)

1698 (83.9)

1903 (94.2)

1966 (97.2)

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

 Education (> 12 years)

374 (18.5)

488 (24.5)

545 (26.9)

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

 Weight (kg)

67.6 ± 12.0

70.2 ± 12.1

71.7 ± 12.6

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

 WC (cm)

87.3 ± 12.4

90.8 ± 12.6

95.8 ± 12.1

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

 BMI (kg/m²)

27.5 ± 4.8

28.9 ± 4.9

29.9 ± 5.4

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

 Smoking (non-smokers)

2783 (97.6)

2731 (97.3)

2771 (96.9)

0.978

0.348

0.058

 Physical activity (active) ^b

760 (26.7)

240 (13.8)

166 (12.9)

< 0.001

> 0.999

< 0.001

 Marital status (married)

2597 (90.5)

2732 (95.2)

2758 (96.2)

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

 Education (> 12 years)

251 (8.8)

377 (13.4)

449 (15.7)

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001