Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the study population (n = 1866) stratified by BMI categories [1]

 Male (n, %)

108 (46.2)

473 (42.1)

154 (59.0)^**

177 (71.7)^**

 Height (cm)

139.39 ± 15.74^**

145.73 ± 16.44

148.74 ± 15.43^*

147.34 ± 14.50

 Weight (kg)

27.78 ± 8.91^**

37.89 ± 12.82

48.90 ± 15.37^**

55.84 ± 17.94^**

 BMI (kg/m²)

13.89 ± 1.23^**

17.23 ± 2.35

21.42 ± 2.51^**

25.07 ± 4.62^**

 TC (mmol/L)

4.29 ± 0.82

4.23 ± 0.89

4.33 ± 0.76

4.46 ± 0.77^**

 TG (mmol/L)

0.83 ± 0.40

0.89 ± 0.45

1.08 ± 0.70^**

1.18 ± 0.57^**

 HDL-C (mmol/L)

1.41 ± 0.35

1.37 ± 0.36

1.26 ± 0.33^**

1.22 ± 0.29^**

 LDL-C (mmol/L)

2.38 ± 0.68

2.35 ± 0.71

2.46 ± 0.68

2.56 ± 0.67^**

 Serum iron (μmol/L)

16.45 (12.20–20.30)

16.30 (12.60–20.20)

15.10 (11.10–18.70)^**

14.90 (11.65–18.30)^**

 Transferrin (g/L)

2.30 (1.97–2.54)

2.32 (2.03–2.63)

2.31 (2.04–2.65)

2.31 (2.04–2.65)

 Ferritin (μg/L)

61.50 (39.00–86.00)

59.00 (41.00–80.00)

55.50 (39.00–77.50)

65.00 (47.00–87.50)^**

 sTfR (mg/L)

3.10 (2.70–3.80)

3.10 (2.60–3.60)

3.30 (2.70–3.80)

3.10 (2.60–3.85)

 Dyslipidemia (n, %)

83 (35.5)

443 (39.4)

124 (47.5)^*

144 (58.3)^**

 Iron deficiency (n, %)

13 (5.6)

53 (4.7)

24 (9.2)^**

22 (8.9)^**

 Fruit (dose/week)

6.00 (4.00–12.00)

7.00 (4.00–12.00)

7.00 (5.00–14.00)

7.00 (5.00–12.00)

 Vegetable (dose/week)

10.00 (7.00–14.00)

14.00 (7.00–14.00)

14.00 (7.00–21.00)^**

14.00 (7.00–16.25)

 Meat (dose/week)

7.00 (7.00–14.00)

7.00 (7.00–14.00)

7.00 (6.00–14.00)

7.00 (5.00–14.00)

 Sugary beverages (ml/week)

250 (0.00–500.00)

250 (0.00–750.00)

500 (0.00–1000.00)^*

250 (0.00–1000.00)

 Vigorous intensity (h/week)

1.58 (0.17–3.62)

1.50 (0.50–4.00)

2.00 (0.67–4.67)^**

2.00 (0.67–4.83)

 Moderate intensity (h/week)

1.67 (0.50–3.50)

1.67 (0.50–3.50)

2.00 (0.83–4.00)

2.00 (0.58–4.83)