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Policies to promote a healthy diet and physical activity

Government Communications Department
Publication date 12.5.2016 10.07
Press release 202/2016

The eating and exercise habits of Finnish people are greatly influenced by their time constraints, living environment and life situation. People's diet and physical activity is also associated with motivation, self-regulation, self-control, and social support from other people. There must be policies in place to provide guidance in making individual choices. These can be related to taxation, marketing and social structures; for example, products and services can be priced, taxed and marketed in a way that encourages people to make a healthy choice.

These findings are from a recent study conducted by the National Institute for Health and Welfare, the Finnish Environment Institute and the University of Helsinki Consumer Society Research Centre to establish factors associated with an unhealthy diet and a small amount of leisure time physical activity, their polarisation and cost, and related guidance measures. The research material included Finnish population data, national and international qualitative studies, and interviews and reports concerning guidance measures. This study was carried out as part of the implementation of the Government's 2014 plan for analysis, assessment and research.

Relationships and a high level of education promote healthy food choices

According to the study, people's food choices are affected by their time constraints, living environment and life situation. Being in a relationship and a high level of education are factors contributing to healthy choices among men, in particular. Among employed people, men and those with the lowest educational levels eat unhealthy food more often than other employed persons. The fact that food or alcohol is sold near one's home may also lead to making unhealthy choices. In addition, the study showed that resisting temptation, that is, having good self-control promotes a healthy diet among all population groups studied. Some people may also choose what they eat on the basis of an assumption that healthy food tastes bad or is expensive, or their choices may be affected by other people. People are encouraged to make healthy choices when they are given good motivation, and when they have an understanding of health as well as social support.

Self-regulation, life situation and social support affect physical activity levels

The study shows that self-regulation skills, social support and motivation are key factors associated with leisure time physical activity. Time constraints and life situation are just as important. For those in a relationship, in particular, these are associated with factors related to the peak child-rearing years, such as a younger age, minor children living at home, and a perception of a low level of social support to encourage exercise. Factors preventing people from doing exercise include a high price for activities and limited availability of services, whereas positive exercise experiences encourage people to engage in physical activity. 

‒ The location of sports facilities was not significant in terms of taking exercise during leisure time. This indicates that community planning has been successful especially in urban areas, says Senior Researcher Katja Borodulin.

Effective policies to provide guidance

Policies that promote a healthy diet and physical activity must target the entire population and must strongly support vulnerable population groups. A healthy diet can be promoted by providing information, regulating taxes and prices, and resricting marketing to children. It is also necessary to further develop effective models for public procurement and structural solutions, such as institutional catering, that support healthy choices and direct resources accordingly. 

Key measures to promote exercise include the provision of diverse opportunities for lifelong physical activity. Inequality can be reduced by allocating support for population groups that engage in little physical activity, by making sports opportunities available for all people, by supporting sports activities for children and young people and by promoting active commuting and other everyday physical activity.

– We have made a number of proposals to decision makers on how to promote a healthy lifestyle. The food on offer, irrespective of where or when it is offered, should always include healthy options. When it comes to physical activity, actors outside the traditional sports sector should also be involved in providing sports opportunities to enable more and more people to do exercise daily, adds Ms Borodulin.

Unhealthy diet, a small amount of physical activity and polarisation ‒ causes, costs and guidance measures (report in Finnish)

Read more about the Government’s analysis, assessment and research activities at tietokayttoon.fi/en

Inquiries: Katja Borodulin, Senior Researcher, National Institute for Health and Welfare, tel. +358 295 248 569, e-mail: [email protected]