Table 1 Descriptive characteristics of the participant groups

Socio-economic and life style factors

Age, year

32.9 (5.3)

51.8 (2.0)

63.7 (4.2)

Age, range

23–42

48–55

57–69

Sex, male/female, n

62/47

–/47

18/28

Education, n (%)⁺

 Primary

1 (1.0)

2 (4.3)

9 (20.5)

 Secondary

52 (51.5)

26 (55.3)

26 (59.1)

 Tertiary

48 (47.5)

19 (40.4)

9 (20.5)

Smoking, n (%)

 Never

43 (46.2)

31 (66.0)

26 (56.5)

 Former

27 (29.1)

13 (27.7)

14 (30.4)

 Current

23 (24.7)

3 (6.4)

6 (13.0)

Alcohol, drinks per week^¤

4.4 (7.4)

4.2 (4.5)

3.1 (5.5)

Body composition^#

Body mass index, kg/m²

28.7 (5.8)

26.0 (3.6)

28.9 (5.7)

Fat mass, kg

30.4 (13.7)

26.0 (8.2)

30.9 (9.9)

Lean body mass, kg

51.4 (10.8)

42.6 (4.5)

46.1 (9.1)

Percentage of fat, %

34.9 (10.1)

35.8 (7.0)

38.5 (8.1)

Physical activity

Sport index

2.8 (0.99)

2.1 (1.1)

Leisure index

2.9 (0.60)

2.7 (0.80)

Work index

2.8 (0.82)

3.0 (0.51)

Self-reported physical activity, n (%)

 Low

6 (12.8)

 Medium

13 (27.7)

 High

28 (59.6)

Monitored physical activity

 MVPA, min

56.1 (32.2)

 Step counts per day

9 337 (3 378)

Physical function phenotypes

VO₂max, ml/kg/min*

35.2 (8.5)

Maximal workload, W

195.8 (54.7)

Walking test, 6 min distance (m)

670 (65)

Hand grip strength (N)

331 (56)

Knee extension torque (Nm)

486 (95)

Vertical jumping height (m)

0.19 (0.043)