Objective To investigate how socio-economic position, demographic factors, degree of integration and dietary indicators are related to BMI/waist:hip ratio (WHR) and to weight dissatisfaction and slimming among South Asians in Oslo, Norway.Design Cross-sectional study consisting of a health check including anthropometric measures and two self-administered questionnaires.Setting Oslo, Norway.Subjects Pakistanis and Sri Lankans (n 629), aged 30-60 years, residing in Oslo.Results BMI was positively associated with female gender (P = 0.004) and Pakistani origin (P < 0001), and inversely associated with years of education (P = 0.011) and eating more hot meals (P = 0.016). WHR was positively associated with male gender (P < 0.001), age (P < 0001) and a dietary pattern with high-fat foods (P = 0.005), and inversely associated with degree of integration (measured by a composite index, independent of duration of residence; P = 0.017). One-third of those with normal weight and most of those obese were dissatisfied with their weight. Among these, about 40 % had attempted to slim during the past year. Dissatisfaction with weight was positively associated with education in women (P = 0.006) and with integration in men (P = 0.026), and inversely associated with physical activity (P = 0.044) in men. Women who had made slimming attempts had breakfast and other meals less frequently than others (P < 0.05).Conclusions Weight dissatisfaction exists among South Asian immigrants. More research is needed regarding bodily dissatisfaction and the relationship between perception of weight and weight-change attempts among immigrants in Norway, in order to prevent and treat both obesity and eating disorders. © 2009 The Authors.

Socio-economic position Weight dissatisfaction overweight immigrants

Pakistan educational status Asian Norway psychological aspect human sex difference middle aged statistics Overweight Asian continental ancestry group obesity ethnology Sri Lanka Cross-Sectional Studies cross-sectional study Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants Acculturation Socioeconomic Factors female socioeconomics cultural factor Article adult migration body weight Sex Factors social class body mass Body Mass Index Personal Satisfaction satisfaction