Investigates the extent of generational differences in adult health-related lifestyles and socio-economic circumstances, and explores whether these differences might explain changing patterns of obesity in ethnic minorities in England. Seven ethnic minority groups were selected from the ethnically boosted 1999 and 2004 Health Survey for England (Indian n = 1580; Pakistani n = 1858; Bangladeshi n = 1549; Black Caribbean n = 1472; Black African n = 587; Chinese n = 1559; and Irish n = 889).