Obesity hits Finland

SIKU CIRCUMPOLAR NEWS

Obesity among children in Finland is on the increase. The latest figures show that 15 to 20 per cent of Finnish children over 10 are overweight.

Of 12- to 18-year-old boys, 20 percent are fat, while 12 per cent of girls are overweight. This means the number of overweight children has doubled or even tripled from the late 1970s.

A study of the eating habits of students revealed that the “snacking culture” is gaining ground even in Finland, with most boys having candy, cookies, and soft drinks for a snack at least twice a week.