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Background Ethnic differences in obesity have been well documented, but comparatively little is known about whether these differences vary according to the degree of exposure to the new environment following migration. Objectives To investigate the extent of generational differences in adult health-related lifestyles and socioeconomic circumstances, and explore whether these differences might explain changing patterns of obesity in ethnic minorities in England. Method Seven ethnic minority groups were selected from the ethnically boosted 1999 and 2004 Health Survey for England (Indian n=887; Pakistani n=603; Bangladeshi n=275; Black Caribbean n=762; Black African n=147; Chinese n=413; and Irish n=1438). A White group was used as a reference population (n=5899). Age and sex adjusted logistic regression estimated the odds of having a poor health behaviour in the second generation compared to the first. Age- and sex-adjusted odds of being obese in the second generation compared to the first were estimated before and after adjusting for generational differences in health related behaviours (snacking, eating cakes and fried foods, having low levels of physical exercise, any drinking including binges, current smoking status) and socioeconomic factors (social class, equivalised income and highest qualification). Results Overall, second generation ethnic minority men and women were significantly more likely than the first to have low vegetable consumption (

Background: Previous research strongly suggests that ethnic minority groups are more likely to suffer a poorer health profile compared with the overall population, although it is not clear whether these inequalities persist over generations. This study aimed to establish the degree to which ethnic inequalities in health are transmitted from the first to the second generation, and to determine the extent to which intergenerational changes in socioeconomic status and health behaviours might explain any variation that exists. Methods: Data from the 1999 and 2004 Health Surveys for England assessed the prevalence of fair/poor general health across first (n = 4492) and second (n = 5729) generations of six ethnic minority populations. A white population was selected as reference (n = 18 407). The risk of fair/poor general health was estimated by applying logistic regression models and stepwise inclusion of demographic, socioeconomic and behavioural variables. Generational movement relative to the white baseline was assessed for all ethnic groups adjusted for age and sex. Results: No significant differences in levels of reported fair/poor general health were observed between generations. After adjusting for improved socioeconomic position, the second generation became more likely to report worse health, whereas adjusting for differences in health behaviours had no effect. The Bangladeshi population showed significant intergenerational improvement in general health relative to the white reference, showing a reduction in the odds ratio (95% CI) from 2.75 (2.14 to 3.56) for the first generation to 1.58 (1.17 to 2.13) in the second generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]