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February 10, 2010
Sweden's 'obesity epidemic' shows signs of slowing: study
Published: 25 Nov 09 08:00 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/23462/20091125/
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After decades of progressive weight gain, Swedes’ waistlines appear to have stopped expanding, a new study shows.
- Popular kids become healthier adults: study (29 Sep 09)
- Getting fit in fitful times (11 Sep 09)
- 'Chocolate is good for your heart': study (13 Aug 09)
“We’ve 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.
Sweden’s 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 aren’t seeing a decrease in weight, but there’s no increase either and that’s a first,” said Johansson.
Despite the encouraging figures, nearly every other Swede – 44 percent of the population – is overweight or obese.
“It’s a large threat to both welfare and the social insurance system,” Johansson told DN, adding that, according to calculations by Sweden’s public health agency, obesity costs the country about 17 billion kronor ($2.5 billion) every year.
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Anyways you ain't seen fat till you've been to Hull.