Objective: To investigate how socio-economic position, demographic factors, degree of integration and dietary indicators are related to BMI/waist:hip ratio (WHR) and to weight dissatisfaction and slimming among South Asians in Oslo, Norway. Design: Cross-sectional study consisting of a health check including anthropometric measures and two self-administered questionnaires. Setting: Oslo, Norway. Subjects: Pakistanis and Sri Lankans (n 629), aged 30-60 years, residing in Oslo. Results: BMI was positively associated with female gender (P 5 0?004) and Pakistani origin (P , 0?001), and inversely associated with years of education (P 5 0?011) and eating more hot meals (P 5 0?016). WHR was positively associated with male gender (P , 0?001), age (P , 0?001) and a dietary pattern with high-fat foods (P 5 0?005), and inversely associated with degree of integration (measured by a composite index, independent of duration of residence; P 5 0?017). One-third of those with normal weight and most of those obese were dissatisfied with their weight. Among these, about 40 % had attempted to slim during the past year. Dissatisfaction with weight was positively associated with education in women (P 5 0?006) and with integration in men (P 5 0?026), and inversely associated with physical activity (P 5 0?044) in men. Women who had made slimming attempts had breakfast and other meals less frequently than others (P , 0?05). Conclusions: Weight dissatisfaction exists among South Asian immigrants. More research is needed regarding bodily dissatisfaction and the relationship between perception of weight and weight-change attempts among immigrants in Norway, in order to prevent and treat both obesity and eating disorders.