CONTINUED INCREASE IN PREVALENCE OF OBESITY IN DANISH YOUNG MEN

BACKGROUND: Previous studies of Danish young men showed a steep increa se of obesity since the birth years of the early 1940s with a levellin g off in the 1950s. OBJECTIVE: To study the current prevalence of obes ity and its recent changes in Danish young men. DESIGN: Cross-sectiona l study based on weight and height measured at the military board for the birth cohorts 1955, 1965 and 1973-75. SUBJECTS: We obtained inform ation from the old paper files comprising the two cohorts of men born in 1955 (6549 adults) and 1965 (6404 adults) and prospectively examine d 4300 from the birth cohorts 1973-75 in a conscription district in De nmark during the period 1 August 1993 to 31 July 1994. RESULTS: The pr evalence of obesity (defined as body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m(2)) was 1.5% in 1955, 2.1% in 1965 and 4.6% in 1973-7 5 birth cohorts. The median BMI has increased during the period from 2 1.7-22.8 kg/m(2). CONCLUSION: Obesity is relatively common and has inc reased among Danish young men.