• Overview
  • Obesity prevalence
  • Trends over time
  • Contextual factors
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National obesity risk *6.5/10This is a composite ‘obesity risk’ score (out of 10, the highest risk) based on obesity prevalence, rate of increase, likelihood of meeting the 2025 target, treatment indicator and childhood stunting levels.Childhood obesity risk *7/11This is a ‘risk score’ for each country’s likelihood of having or acquiring a major childhood obesity problem during the 2020s, taking account of current prevalence levels and risk for future obesity (based on stunting among infants, maternal obesity, maternal smoking, and breastfeeding rates).
* Based on estimated data. For more information see Publications

Obesity prevalence

Trends over time

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Population breakdowns

By education

By age

By region

By socio-economic group

Limited activity

Drivers

Insufficient activity

Sugar consumption

Soft drink consumption

Confectionery consumption

Sweet/savoury snack consumption

Fruit consumption

Vegetable consumption

Processed meat consumption

Grains consumption

Depression

Anxiety

Roots of obesity »

Like all chronic diseases, the root causes/drivers of obesity are complex. Select here to view 'other' root causes/drivers.

Comorbidities

Oesophageal cancer

Breast cancer

Colorectal cancer

Pancreatic cancer

Gallbladder cancer

Kidney cancer

Cancer of the uterus

Raised blood pressure

Raised cholesterol

Raised fasting blood glucose

Diabetes prevalence

Economic impact

Economic impact

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Policies

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Contextual factors

Contextual factors

Obesity prevalence

Adults, 2023

Survey type:Measured
Age:20+
Sample size:5670
Area covered:National
References:Healthy Finland survey 2023. https://repo.thl.fi/sites/tervesuomi/ilmioraportit_2023/lihavuus.html (Accessed 5.12.23)
Notes:Permanent residents only. The health examination took place in January-June 2023.
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².
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Adults, 2019

Survey type:Self-reported
Age:18+
Area covered:National
References:Eurostat 2019. Data available at https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=hlth_ehis_bm1i&lang=en (last accessed 09.08.21)
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².
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Adults, 2019

Survey type:Self-reported
Age:20+
Sample size:10,000
Area covered:National
References:Finland National Health, Welfare and Services Survey (FinSote) - FinSote 2019 . Data available at:https://sotkanet.fi/sotkanet/en/haku?q=obesity. Last accessed: 27.05.21.
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².
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Adults, 2017

Survey type:Self-reported
Age:18+
Area covered:National
References:2017 - EUROSTAT Database http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=ilc_hch10&lang=en (last accessed 25.08.20)
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².
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Adults, 2017

Survey type:Measured
Age:30+
Sample size:9,288
Area covered:National
References:Koponen P. FinTerveys., 2017. Terveys, toimintakyky ja hyvinvointi Suomessa. Available: http://www.julkari.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/136223/THL_RAP_2018_04_Finterveys_verkko.pdf?sequence=6&isAllowed=y. [Last accessed 13th September 2018].
Notes:Data derived from The National FinHealth 2017 Survey, which combines the previous Health 2000/2011 and FINRISK Surveys. NB. Combined adult data estimated. These estimates were calculated by weighting male and female survey results. Weighting based on World Bank Population % total female 2019 (https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL.FE.ZS - accessed 30.09.20)'
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².
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Adults, 2014

Survey type:Self-reported
Age:18+
Area covered:National
References:2014 Eurostat Database:http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=hlth_ehis_bm1e&lang=en (last accessed 25.08.20)
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².
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Adults, 2012

Survey type:Measured
Age:25-64
Sample size:4399
Area covered:National
References:Kansallinen FINRISKI 2012 -terveystutkimus - Osa 2: Tutkimuksen taulukkoliite. http://www.julkari.fi/handle/10024/114942 (last accessed 9th November 2017)
Notes:Data derived from the national FINRISK surveys at the National Institute for Health and Welfare THL. Figures are age-adjusted and population-weighted.
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².
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Adults, 2007

Survey type:Measured
Age:25-64
Sample size:4804
Area covered:National
References:Peltonen M, Harald K, Männistö S, Saarikoski L, Lund L, Sundvall J, Juolevi A, Laatikainen T, Aldén-Nieminen H, Luoto R, Jousilahti P, Salomaa V, Taimi M, Vartiainen E. Kansallinen FINRISKI 2007 –terveystutkimus, Tutkimuksen toteutus ja tulokset: Taulukkoliite. Kansanterveyslaitos. Yliopistopaino, Helsinki 2008.
Notes:Data derived from the national FINRISK surveys at the National Institute for Health and Welfare THL. Figures are age-adjusted and population-weighted.
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².
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Adults, 2000

Survey type:Measured
Age:30+
References:Personal Correspondence from Ailsa Rissanen, data presented at ECO 03
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².
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Adults, 2000-2003

Survey type:Self-reported
Age:15+
Area covered:National
References:Eurostat Yearbook 2006/07. A goldmine of statistical information. Available at https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/5059290/1-20022007-BP-EN.PDF.pdf/edab8c31-b9f3-4c8e-b4db-4137bd045efa?t=1414683510000 (last accessed 04.11.21)
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².
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Adults, 1992

Survey type:Measured
Age:25-64
Sample size:4583
References:Lahti-Koski M, Pietinen P, Munnisto S, Vartiainen E. Trends in waist to hip ratio and its determinants in adults in Finland from 1987 to 1997. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2000;72:1436-1444
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².
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Adults, 1982

Survey type:Measured
Age:25-64
Sample size:9340
References:Lahti-Koski M, Vartiainen E, Mannisto S, Pietinen P. Age, education and occupation as determinants of trends in body mass index in Finland from 1982 to 1997. International Journal of Obesity (2000);24:1669-1676
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².
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Children, 2018-2020

Survey type:Measured
Age:8
Sample size:3800
Area covered:National
References:Report on the fifth round of data collection, 2018–2020: WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI). Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2022. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
Cutoffs:WHO 2007
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Children, 2015-2017

Survey type:Measured
Age:8
Sample size:4511
Area covered:National
References:WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) Report on the fourth round of data collection, 2015–2017 (2021). Available at: https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/nutrition/activities/who-european-childhood-obesity-surveillance-initiative-cosi/cosi-publications/who-european-childhood-obesity-surveillance-initiative-cosi-report-on-the-fourth-round-of-data-collection,-20152017-2021. Accessed 19.05.21.
Cutoffs:WHO
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Children, 2011-2014

Survey type:Measured
Age:9-12
Sample size:10646
Area covered:National
References:Sarkkola C, Viljakainen J, de Oliveira Figueiredo R, A, Saari A, Lommi S, Engberg E, Viljakainen H: Prevalence of thinness, overweight, obesity and central obesity in Finnish school-aged children: a comparison of national and international reference values. Obes Facts 2021. doi: 10.1159/000521170
Notes:Study also have WHO and Finnish cut-offs.
Cutoffs:IOTF
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Children, 2010

Survey type:Self-reported
Age:13-15
Sample size:4262
Area covered:National
References:Nuutinen, Teija, et al. “Clustering of Energy Balance-Related Behaviours, Sleep, and Overweight among Finnish Adolescents.” International Journal of Public Health, vol. 62, no. 8, 7 June 2017, pp. 929–938, 10.1007/s00038-017-0991-4. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28593331/. Accessed 12 May 2021.
Cutoffs:IOTF
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Children, 2007-2009

Survey type:Measured
Age:11-16
Sample size:1836
Area covered:National
References:Parikka, S. et al.(2015)'Associations between parental BMI,socioeconomic factors, family structure and overweight in Finnish children: a path model approach', BMC Public Health, 15:271.DOI 10.1186/s12889-015-1548-1
Notes:NB. Combined child data estimated. These estimates were calculated by weighting male and female survey results. Weighting based on World Bank Population % total female 2019 (https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL.FE.ZS - accessed 09.11.20)
Cutoffs:IOTF
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Children, 2006

Survey type:Measured
Age:12
Sample size:4013
Area covered:Regional
References:Vuorela N. (2009). Prevalence of overweight and obesity in 5- and 12-year-old Finnish children in 1986 and 2006. Acta P¬údiatrica, 98; 507 - 512.
Cutoffs:IOTF
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Children, 1986

Survey type:Measured
Age:5
Sample size:2108
References:Vuorela N, Saha MT, Salo M. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in 5 and 12 year old Finnish children in 1986 and 2006. Acta Paediatrica 2009;98:507-512
Cutoffs:IOTF
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