Sweden’s ‘obesity epidemic’ shows signs of slowing: study
Reported November 25, 2009
After decades of progressive weight gain, Swedes waistlines appear to have stopped expanding, a new study shows.
For the first time in 70 years, the number of obese and overweight people in Sweden hasnt increased, according to statistics presented at the annual meeting of the Swedish Society of Medicine (Svenska Läkaresällskapet) and reviewed by the Dagens Nyheter (DN) newspaper.
Weve been able to stop the growing obesity epidemic in Sweden. The possibility of becoming sick and dying because one is overweight has become part of the public consciousness, professor Gunnar Johansson of the National Institute of Public Health (Folkhälsoinstitutet ) told the newspaper.
Swedens have become fatter every year since 1980, the year that Statistics Sweden (SCB) began collecting data on Swedes weight.
But starting in 2004, the steady weight increase began to level out.
We arent seeing a decrease in weight, but theres no increase either and thats a first, said Johansson.
Despite the encouraging figures, nearly every other Swede 44 percent of the population is overweight or obese.
Its a large threat to both welfare and the social insurance system, Johansson told DN, adding that, according to calculations by Swedens public health agency, obesity costs the country about 17 billion kronor ($2.5 billion) every year.
Source : TT/David Landes
