Researchers have analyzed 447 925 Swedes' length and weight measured by occupational health care between 1995 - 2017. It was then found that 53.9 percent are overweight (BMI over 25), 16.6 percent have obesity (BMI over 30) and 4.2 percent severe obesity (BMI over 35). It is higher than the Public Health Authority's FHM statistics, which are based on the weight and length that people themselves fill in, which risks leading to some discernment. In 2018, FHM said that 51 percent of adult Swedes have obesity or obesity.

BMI good measure of obesity

Body mass index, BMI, is calculated by taking a person's weight divided by the person's length in meters times themselves (eg 72 kg / 1.77x1.77 m = BMI 22.98 ie normal weight). BMI is a measure that can give a picture of the overweight of a population, but can be misleading at the individual level. Muscles weigh more than fat for example.

Probably even more overweight in Sweden

The database that the researchers analyzed is called HPA and contains measurement values ​​from employees' health profiles for ages between 18-74 years at a large number of Swedish companies with occupational health care. The researchers have compensated for the study to include more men than women because men have a higher probability of obesity, but not because the employees had a higher level of education than the average population. Low levels of education increase the risk of obesity, so according to the researchers, the overweight is likely to be slightly higher in the entire adult population than the study shows.

Obesity often leads to chronic disease

Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, type two diabetes and several forms of cancer. Overweight is thus one of the biggest public health problems both in Sweden and globally and costs both individuals suffering and society large sums in health care costs. In 2017, the Public Health Authority estimated that only obese in Sweden cost an estimated SEK 70 billion per year.

Other countries have introduced measures

Sweden, unlike our neighboring countries, has not introduced scientifically proven measures to reduce obesity at the population level, such as soft drink or junk food labeling, the researchers point out.

"It is high time for politicians to introduce preventative measures, especially for children in vulnerable housing areas," says Erik Hemmingsson, who is an overweight researcher at the Gymnastics and Sports Academy in Stockholm. Once you become overweight, it is difficult to get rid of these pounds.

The study is published in the Scandinavian Journal of Public Health.