English summary: REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN FOOD CONSUMPTION AND HEALTH RISKS IN FINLAND
Background Promotion of healthy dietary habits and prevention of obesity are important public health goals. The aim of this study is to provide information on regional differences in food consumption, obesity and serum cholesterol levels for local decision makers, health care professionals, nutrition specialists and researchers.
Methods The maps are based on three population surveys by the National Public Health Institute of Finland: Health 2000 and FINRISK 1997 and 2002. Mapping (spatial modelling) was carried out using a Bayesian autoregressive model.
Results When evaluated by five dietary indicators of health, the quality of the diet is the best in the capital area and in Eastern Finland and better among women than among men. The consumption of vegetables and fruit is most common and the intake of salt lowest in Southern Finland and in the most densely populated cities. The consumption of rye bread and berries is most common in Eastern Finland and the consumption of fish in Eastern and Northern Finland. The average intake of saturated fatty acids and the prevalence of obesity and high cholesterol levels are highest outside of densely populated cities.
Conclusions Regional special needs could be taken into account in nutrition and health promotion activities. However, inter-individual differences are large. In addition to strategies aimed at the whole population, special attention needs to be paid to men and to areas outside of densely populated cities.
More maps are presented in a report by the National Public Health Institute (Abstract and list of figures in English): Similä ym. 2005. Terveyttä edistävä ruokavalio, lihavuus ja seerumin kolesteroli karttoina. Kansanterveyslaitoksen julkaisuja B20/2005. http://www.ktl.fi/portal/2920
Tästä asiasta tiedettiin Ruoankäytöstä sekä lihavuuden ja veren suurentuneen kolesterolipitoisuuden esiintymisestä Suomessa on olemassa valtakunnallista tietoa. Lisäksi on viitteitä siitä, että suomalaisten ruoankäytössä ja riskitekijätasoissa esiintyy alueellisia eroja. Ruoankäytön, lihavuuden ja kolesterolipitoisuuden osalta ei olla tavoitteiden mukaisessa tilanteessa.
Tämä tutkimus opetti Terveellisten ruokatottumusten edistäminen sekä lihavuuden ja veren suurentuneen kolesterolipitoisuuden ehkäiseminen on edelleen tärkeää koko maassa. Tutkimus havainnollistaa näiden tekijöiden alueellista esiintymistä Suomessa ja tuo esiin terveydenedistämistyön alueellisen painottamisen tarpeita.
