Nearly one in four adults in Finland is significantly obese, according to new figures from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
Last year, 24.5 percent of Finnish adults had a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. This marks a two percentage point increase from 2020, when the figure was 22.5 percent. THL defines BMI 30 as the threshold for health-risk obesity, based on international standards.
The findings come from the THL’s Sotkanet database, which tracks population health indicators across all Finnish municipalities. The figures reflect survey data from individuals aged 20 and over.
Obesity rates have increased in most wellbeing services counties. The highest was in South Ostrobothnia, where more than 30 percent of adults were classified as obese in 2024. That is nearly three percentage points higher than in 2020.
Northern Ostrobothnia, Lapland, and Central Uusimaa also saw the largest increases, with obesity rates climbing by over five percentage points in each area. These now range between 26 and 28 percent.
Helsinki continues to report the lowest obesity levels in the country. Its rate was around 17 percent in 2024, close to where it stood in 2020, despite a brief increase in 2022.
Some areas, including Eastern Uusimaa, Pirkanmaa, and South Karelia, reported slight decreases of less than one percentage point. In these regions, obesity affects roughly 21 to 26 percent of the population.
Päivi Mäki, Development Manager for Lifestyles and Living Environment at THL, said the rise is most notable among the working-age population.
She attributed regional variation partly to urban design and access to exercise. “Larger cities offer more options for walking, cycling, and using public transport,” she said. “They also have more structured sports and fitness opportunities.”
Mäki also cited links between lifestyle choices and education levels, which differ across regions.
She emphasised that the purpose of the data is not to assign blame but to support decisions that could prevent further increases. “Obesity is associated with many serious health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and fatty liver disease,” she said.
Mäki pointed to a Finnish study published in BMC Public Health, which found that people who are overweight or obese generate higher costs for society than those with a normal weight.
She expressed support for taxation on unhealthy foods and stricter marketing rules. Earlier this year, the Finnish government abandoned plans to increase VAT on sweets and chocolate.
“Norway already bans marketing unhealthy food to those under 18, and Denmark is preparing a similar law. Finland only has non-binding guidelines,” she said.
HT
