Generational changes in height and body mass differences between British Asians and the general population in Glasgow

A weighted total of 630 pupils aged 14-15 in Glasgow schools, about evenly divided between pupils of South Asian and non-Asian (overwhelmingly British) background, were measured for height and weight and compared with previous results for a similar Glasgow sample aged 30-40. Among 14-15-year-olds, British Asians were not so short compared with non-Asians as among 30-40-year-olds, especially females. Among 30-40-year-old Glasgow Asians only 7% were born in the UK, while among 14-15-year-old Glasgow Asians 86% were so born, indicating that they are the children of migrants. Generational differences in these comparisons cannot be due to positive selection of the migrant generation for height, and are attributed to improved environment, including nutrition and public health measures. This suggests the possibility of corresponding improvements in coronary and diabetic risk.