Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the intervention and control group (n = 469)*

Male sex, n (%)

121

50.4

129

56.3

Age, years

65.2

7.3

65.9

7.9

Weight, kg

79.4

16.9

80.7

15.9

Height, cm

172.4

8.8

173.0

8.8

Waist circumference, cm

93.7

13.9

95.8

13.6

Hip circumference, cm

101.3

9.6

102.0

8.8

BMI, kg/m²

26.6

4.8

26.9

4.6

  < 18.5, n (%)

1

0.4

5

2.2

 18.5–24.9, n (%)

87

36.3

72

31.4

 25.0–29.9, n (%)

112

46.7

99

43.2

  > 30.0, n (%)

40

16.7

53

23.1

Tumor location, n (%)

 C18 Colon

141

59.0

133

58.6

 C19 Recto-sigmoid

6

2.5

17

7.5

 C20 Rectum

92

38.5

77

33.9

TNM stage¹, n (%)

 I

77

32.1

71

31.0

 II

93

38.8

82

35.8

 III

70

29.2

76

33.2

Type of surgery, n (%)

 Open 

66

27.7

69

30.3

 Laparoscopic

145

60.9

129

56.6

 Laparoscopic converted to open

17

7.1

19

8.3

 Endoscopic

10

4.2

11

4.8

Additional treatment, n (%)

 Neoadjuvant

25

10.5

22

9.6

 Adjuvant²

53

22.5

58

25.6

Ostomy, n (%)

63

26.3

58

25.4

Days between surgery and baseline

159.0

60.3

168.2

55.7

Comorbidity, n (%) 

 Any comorbidity

161

67.1

148

64.6

 Musculoskeletal diseases

70

29.2

52

22.7

 Heart diseases

21

8.8

34

14.8

 Stroke

11

4.7

3

1.3

 Diabetes

24

10.0

28

12.2

 Other cancers

58

24.7

52

22.8

 Other diseases

53

22.1

74

32.3

Education, n (%)

 Primary School

23

9.7

22

9.7

 High School

96

40.3

98

43.2

 University/College

119

50.0

107

47.1

Working status, n (%)

 Employed

66

31.3

64

30.5

 Retired/unemployed

145

68.7

146

69.5

Body composition

 Fat mass, kg

27.8

9.7

28.3

9.3

 Fat mass, %

35.2

7.5

35.4

7.6

 Fat free mass, kg

52.8

10.7

53.6

10.4

 Lean mass, kg

50.0

10.1

50.9

9.9

Physical activity and tests

Handgrip strength, kg

32.7

9.9

33.0

10.1

30STS, stands

15.6

4.9

15.6

4.9

6MWT, meters

584.4

94.2

576.1

98.6

MVPA, minutes/week, mean (min, max)

509.8

(278.8, 844.0)

468.0

(278.8,833.0)