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

Background: Ethnic differences in being overweight and obesitywere studied among 18 year old males in Sweden. Methods. Thisnationwide study was based on a record linkage between the MedicalBirth Register, the Register of Military Induction Examinationsand the Register of the Total Population. For 140,766 (87.8%)of the 160,247 males information was available on body massindex (BMI) and on their mothers' nationality. Results. Afteradjustment for education and geographical region the odds ratiofor being overweight was found to be higher among 18 year oldsons of immigrants from Finland (1.38 and 95% Cl: 1.26–1.52)than among sons of Swedish mothers. Similarly, the odds ratiofor being overweight was higher among the sons of immigrantsfrom former Eastern Europe (1.68 and 96% Cl: 1.46–1.94)than among sons of Swedish mothers. Conclusions: The risks ofbeing overweight and obesity were increased among the sons ofimmigrants from Finland and former Eastern Europe compared tosons of Swedish mothers.