|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nutrition and lifestyle interventions in Finland:
The Finnish diet in the 1960s was characterized with a high intake of
dairy fat, and mortality in coronary heart disease was highest in the
world. Public health and nutritional problems were most obvious in the
Northern and Eastern parts of the country, wherefore, a community based
program for the prevention of cardiovascular disease through lifestyle and
risk factor changes - the North Karelia project - was launched in 1972.
Decrease in the CVD-mortality and the levels of risk factors in North
Karelia and elsewhere in Finland since the 1970s can be considered a
success story. The use of high fat milk products decreased, that of fruit
and vegetables increased, and beneficial changes were observed also in
regard to smoking and leisure time exercise. Concurrently, regional and
socio-economic differences in fat intake and exercise decreased. On the
other hand, alcohol consumption increased and overweight became a growing
problem. Smoking and overweight are more common among the lower
socio-economic groups, and in smoking the socio-economic gap has even
widened. Structural changes in the Finnish society are associated with the
beneficial development of public health. Standard of living and the
general educational level have risen. Urbanization has continued - after
joining the EU the rate has increased. These factors have created
circumstances where the public interest in healthy lifestyle has increased
and everybody has had better changes to follow recommendations given by
the experts. The structural factors have, unfortunately, supported
sedentary lifestyle and some negative changes, as well.
|
|
|
|
© 2005 | info@agev.net | Impressum
|
