Short report. Ethnic differences in being overweight and obesity among male military conscripts born in Sweden between 1973 and 1975

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Abstract
Background: Ethnic differences in being overweight and obesity were studied among 18 year old males in Sweden. Methods. This nationwide study was based on a record linkage between the Medical Birth Register, the Register of Military Induction Examinations and the Register of the Total Population. For 140,766 (87.8%) of the 160,247 males information was available on body mass index (BMI) and on their mothers' nationality. Results. After adjustment for education and geographical region the odds ratio for being overweight was found to be higher among 18 year old sons of immigrants from Finland (1.38 and 95% Cl: 1.26–1.52) than among sons of Swedish mothers. Similarly, the odds ratio for being overweight was higher among the sons of immigrants from former Eastern Europe (1.68 and 96% Cl: 1.46–1.94) than among sons of Swedish mothers. Conclusions: The risks of being overweight and obesity were increased among the sons of immigrants from Finland and former Eastern Europe compared to sons of Swedish mothers.

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