Table 1 Baseline characteristic of over-weight or obese compared with no over-weight participants (n = 488)

Weight, kg, mean (95 % CI) (SD)

88.6 (86.5–90.9)

(16.4)

63.2 (62.1–64.3)

(9.2)

ANOVA, F = 468.2 P = 0.000

Height, cm, mean, (95 % CI) (SD)

171.2 (170.1–172.4)

(8.9)

170.1 (169.1–171.1)

(8.5)

ANOVA, F = 2.0 P = 0.16

BMI, kg/m^{2 a}, mean (95 % CI) (SD)

30.2 (29.5–30.8)

(4.7)

21.8 (21.5–22.0)

(1.9)

ANOVA, F = 702.5 P = 0.000

Age, years, mean (95 % CI)(SD)

34.7 (34.4–36.2)

(6.7)

33.5 (33.3–34.9)

(6.6)

ANOVA F = 3.9 P = 0.049

Sex, number male/female (%)

70/148

(32.1 %)

62/208

(23 %)

RR = 1.40 (1.04 to 1.9) P = 0.025

Not single/single (%)

160/58

(73.4 %)

186/82

(w69.4 %)

RR = 1.22 (0.82 to 1.8) P = 0.36

11 years or more school education, number (%)

70/148

(32.1 %)

100/170

(37.0 %)

RR = 0.87 (0.68 to 1.11) P = 0.44

Self-rated health

133/85

(61.0 %)

154/115

(57.2 %)

RR = 1.17 (0.81 to 1.68) P = 0.41

Bad to fair/good to very good, number (%)

Consider a short term weight loss, number (%)

46/169

(21.4 %)

15/254

(5.6 %)

RR = 3.84 (2.2 to 6.7) P = 0.000

Number of problems, mean (95 % CI) (SD) (min 7 and max 33)

9.9 (9.6–10.3)

(2.9)

10.3 (10.0–10.7)

(3.1)

ANOVA, F = 2.1 P = 0.15

Mental score (mcs-SF12), mean (SD) (n = 216 and 262)

40.4 (38.8–42.0)

(11.9)

39.8 (38.4–41.1)

(10.7)

ANOVA, F = 0.40 P = 0.53

Physical score (pcs-SF12), mean (SD) (n = 216 and 262)

46.8 (45.3–48.2)

(11.0)

48.8 (47.5–50.1)

(10.5)

ANOVA, F = 4.31 P = 0.038

Intervention/control group, number (%)

111/107

(50.9 %)

128/142

(47.4 %)

RR = 1.07 (0.90 to 1.29) P = 0.25

Weight loss as a prioritized goal for the next year^b number (%)

27/191

(12.4 %)

5/265

(1.9 %)

RR = 7.49 (2.8 to 19.8) P = 0.000