Characteristics of the population stratified according to sex and the health behaviour score (n = 325,537)¹.

Abbreviation: WC – waist circumference, mMDS – modified Mediterranean diet score. 1Means (standard deviation) are presented for continuous variables and percentages are presented for categorical variables. 2Uncorrected 5-y change means that self-reported weight or waist circumference at either baseline or follow-up (for individuals with no measured weight available) was used to calculate weight change. 3Corrected 5-y change means that the “Oxford correction equations” [33] were applied to individuals with self-reported weight at either baseline or follow-up to predict their likely measured weight, and to calculate weight change. 4Waist circumference is available for a subsample of 37,245 men and 51,727 women. 5Physically active is defined as a Cambridge Physical Activity Index [51] of >1, i.e., not being inactive that is if a person has a sedentary occupation and perform at least half an hour of leisure time activity a day, such as cycling or swimming; or else a non-sedentary occupation with or without leisure time activity. 6High mMDS includes person with a mMDS score above the median. 7Highly educated is defined as a longer education than secondary school (including an university degree).