Although during recent years the prevalence of obesity in northern Sweden has been rising at a similar rate to its European neighbors, the incidence of type 2 diabetes has remained relatively stable in Sweden during this time (11). However, the present study suggests that the genetic basis of obesity in people from Västerbotten is similar to other geographic populations. Thus, studies which seek to determine the mechanisms that protect this population against the diabetes-inducing effects of obesity might yield important insights into diabetes prevention that are relevant to other populations. In this context, studies focusing on gene–environment interactions may help elucidate why the relationship between obesity and diabetes differs between populations.
