Finnish women increasingly overweight

Study shows Finns eat healthier food, but still gain weight

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The tendency of Finns to suffer from high cholesterol has long been a cause for concern in Finland, and in that respect, the results of a fresh study can be seen as good news.
      According to the Finnriski study, which is conducted by the National Public Health Institute (KTL) every five years, cholesterol levels in 2002-2007 declined by an average 4.9 percentage points in all areas that were studied.
      A total of about 6,000 Finns aged 25 to 64 were involved in the study. The areas under investigation were North Karelia, North Savo, Helsinki and Vantaa, the Turku region, and Oulu Province. The combined cholesterol level of all areas was an average 5.24 millimoles per litre.
      "The use of fats has gone in a positive direction, but the use of statin cholesterol medicines is also having an effect", says research professor Erkki Vartiainen at KTL.
      However, although cholesterol levels are going in a better direction, Finns are still gaining more weight than before. Weight problems have increased in the past five years especially among the young.
     
Average weight among Finnish women rose by 900 grammes from five years ago, while men gained half a kilo on average.
      Only 33 per cent of Finnish men, and 48 per cent of women were of normal weight. Young people especially have gained weight.
      "I would hope that Finland could be the first country where the weight gain trend stops", Vartiainen says.
     
The survey also found that the decline in blood pressure, that had continued for about 20 years, has stopped. Smoking among men has continued to decline, while smoking among women has turned downward.


Links:
  National Public Health Institute

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