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European Journal of Epidemiology (2006) 21:377382 Springer 2006
DOI 10.1007/s10654-006-9001-5OBESITYHigh obesity incidence in northern Sweden: How will Sweden look by 2009?Anne N. Nafziger1,2,3, Hans Stenlund4, Stig Wall4, Paul L. Jenkins2, Vivan Lundberg5,
Thomas A. Pearson6 & Lars Weinehall4,71Clinical Pharmacology Research Center, Bassett Healthcare, One Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326-1394, USA;2The Research Institute, Bassett Healthcare, One Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326-1394, USA; 3Ordway ResearchInstitute, ORI Drug Development Center, 150 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208, USA;4Epidemiology and PublicHealth Sciences, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umea University, SE-901 85, Umea, Sweden;5Department of Internal Medicine, Kalix District Hospital, SE-952 00, Kalix, Sweden; 6Department of Community &Preventive Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 644, Rochester, NY 14642, USA;7National Institute of Public Health Sweden, SE-103 52, Stockholm, SwedenAccepted in revised form 2 March 2006Abstract. The study objective was to evaluate the
incidence of overweight and obesity in two rural areas
of Sweden and the U.S. Previously collected data
were used from 1990 to 1999 Multinational Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular
Disease (MONICA) studies in northern Sweden.
Health censuses of adults in Otsego County, New
York were collected in 1989 and 1999. Adults aged
2564 year in 1989 with reports from both surveys
were included. The 10-year change in body mass
index (BMI), overweight (BMI 2529.9 kg/m2)and
obesity (BMI 30) were obtained from panel studies.
Incidences of overweight and obesity were calculated and compared between countries. The 10-yearincidence of obesity was 120/1000 in Sweden and 173/
1000 in the U.S. (p<0.001 for dierence between
countries). In 1999, prevalence of obesity rose to18.4% (Sweden) and 32.3% (U.S.). Cumulative distribution curves show that the BMI distribution in
Sweden during 1999 is nearly identical to the U.S.
during 1989. The obese proportions of these rural
populations increased from 1989 to 1999. Swedens
obesity epidemic has a progression similar to that of
the U.S., implying that by 2009, the prevalence of
obesity in rural northern Sweden may mimic that
present in rural New York during 1999. Attention
should be paid to the increased obesity rates in rural
areas.Key words: Body mass index, Obesity, Sweden/epidemiology, United States/epidemiologyAbbreviations: BMI = body mass index; MONICA = Multinational Monitoring of Trends and Determinants
in Cardiovascular Disease; U.S. = United States; WHO...