Table 1 Characteristics of the study sample

Age (years)

23.0 ± 2.8

23.6 ± 2.9

22.1 ± 2.3

<0.001

Age (≥30 years)

21 (3.8 %)

12 (3.4 %)

9 (4.5 %)

Weight (Kg)

62.3 ± 9.65

63.4 ± 7.5

60.3 ± 12.4

0.002

Height (m)

1.7 ± 0.1

1.7 ± 0.1

1.6 ± 0.1

<0.001

BMI (Kg/m²)

22.0 ± 3.2

21.5 ± 2.4

22.8 ± 4.2

<0.001

General overweight/obesity (%)

72 (13.0 %)

21 (5.9 %)

51 (25.8 %)

<0.001

WC (cm)

77.7 ± 6.8

76.6 ± 5.0

79.8 ± 8.7

<0.001

Abdominal obesity (%)

84 (15.2 %)

3 (0.8 %)

81 (40.9 %)

<0.001

Food group

Cereals and grains (Mean ± SD)

3.1 ± 1.1

3.2 ± 1.2

3.0 ± 1.1

0.011

>3 days/week

204 (37.0 %)

141 (39.8 %)

63 (31.8 %)

0.066

Roots and tubers (mean

1.5 ± 1.2

1.5 ± 1.3

1.5 ± 1.0

0.977

>3 days/week (Mean ± SD)

30 (5.4 %)

24 (6.8 %)

6 (3.0 %)

0.078

Beans and nuts (Mean ± SD)

2.0 ± 1.5

2.1 ± 1.5

1.7 ± 1.

0.005

>3 days/week

66 (12.0 %)

45 (12.7 %)

21 (10.6 %)

0.497

Fruits and vegetables (Mean ± SD)

2.0 ± 1.5

1.8 ± 1.4

2.5 ± 1.7

<0.001

>3 days/week

84 (15.2 %)

36 (10.2 %)

48 (24.2 %)

<0.001

Animal products (Mean ± SD)

3.7 ± 2.1

3.3 ± 2.0

4.3 ± 2.0

<0.001

>3 days/week

252 (45.7 %)

129 (36.4 %)

123 (62.1 %)

<0.001

Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic beverages (Mean ± SD)

2.4 ± 1.7

2.3 ± 1.6

2.5 ± 1.7

0.360

>3 days/week

114 (20.7 %)

63 (17.8 %)

51 (25.8 %)

0.029

Fats and oils (Mean ± SD)

1.0 ± 0.2

1.1 ± 0.3

1.0 ± 0.2

0.063

>3 days/week

0

0

0

0

Physical activity levels

Vigorous

294 (53.3 %)

237 (66.9 %)

57 (28.8 %)

<0.001

Moderate

195 (35.3 %)

99 (28.0 %)

96 (48.5 %)

<0.001

Light

63 (11.4 %)

18 (5.1 %)

45 (22.7 %)

<0.001