Health and body mass index changes among Italian conscripts born in 1951 and 1980

This paper investigates changes in BMI in the second half of the twentieth century, focusing on two cohorts of Italian conscripts born in 1951 and 1980, and examines how the correlates of high and low BMI have changed over time. Data from conscript cohorts taken from the archives of Italian military districts show that younger conscripts exposed to the rising prevalence of immune-allergological and psychological diseases and metabolic dysfunctions underwent substantial increases in weight. These results are evidenced by quantile regression models, the largest BMI gains being found in diabetic conscripts at the 75th and 90th percentiles.