Dietary and lifestyle characteristics associated with normal-weight obesity: the National FINRISK 2007 Study.

The aim of the present study was to compare the lifestyle (leisure-time physical activity, smoking habits and alcohol consumption) and dietary (energy-yielding nutrients, dietary fibre and foods) factors of Finns with a new syndrome called normal-weight obesity (NWO) with those of lean and overweight Finns. The representative population-based study included 4786 participants (25-74 years) from the National FINRISK 2007 Study with a health examination and questionnaires. Food intake was assessed using a validated FFQ.

The Baltic Sea Diet Score: a tool for assessing healthy eating in Nordic countries.

Objective: The health-related effects of the Nordic diet remain mostly unidentified. We created a Baltic Sea Diet Score (BSDS) for epidemiological research to indicate adherence to a healthy Nordic diet. We examined associations between the score and nutrient intakes that are considered important in promoting public health.

Twenty-five year trends in body mass index by education and income in Finland.

Background: The socioeconomic gradient in obesity and overweight is amply documented. However, the contribution of different socioeconomic indicators on trends of body mass index (BMI) over time is less well known. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of education and income with (BMI) from the late 1970s to the early 2000s.

Dietary macronutrients and food consumption as determinants of long-term weight change in adult populations: a systematic literature review.

This systematic literature review examined the role of dietary macronutrient composition, food consumption and dietary patterns in predicting weight or waist circumference (WC) change, with and without prior weight reduction. The literature search covered year 2000 and onwards. Prospective cohort studies, case-control studies and interventions were included.

Effects of a healthy food supply intervention in a military setting: positive changes in cereal, fat and sugar containing foods.

Background: In Finland, all men are liable to military service and a clear majority completes service. The increasing prevalence of obesity also among soldiers concerns conscripts' food choices. Conscripts are served nutritionally planned regular main meals but individual choices take place in free-time eating.

Adherence to the Baltic Sea diet consumed in the Nordic countries is associated with lower abdominal obesity.

Due to differences in food cultures, dietary quality measures, such as the Mediterranean Diet Score, may not be easily adopted by other countries. Recently, the Baltic Sea Diet Pyramid was developed to illustrate healthy choices for the diet consumed in the Nordic countries. We assessed whether the Baltic Sea Diet Score (BSDS) based on the Pyramid is associated with a decreased risk of obesity and abdominal obesity.

Food choices and health during military service: increases in sugar- and fibre-containing foods and changes in anthropometric and clinical risk factors.

Objective: To analyse changes in food choices, diet-related risk factors and their association during 6 months of military service.

Design: Longitudinal cohort study in Finland, where all men are liable to military service and a clear majority of each age group completes service. Dietary intake data were collected by self-administered questionnaire before and at 6 months of service.

Awareness and use of the Heart Symbol by Finnish consumers.

Objective: To study the awareness of the Heart Symbol in different age and educational groups, and changes in the awareness over a 9-year period. In addition, the reported use of products with the symbol was examined.

Design: A series of annual cross-sectional postal surveys on Health Behaviour and Health among the Finnish Adult Population.

Meal pattern and BMI in 9-11-year-old children in Finland.

Objective: In many studies it has been shown that breakfast is associated with normal weight in children and adolescents. Other meals, family meals and a regular meal pattern have been less studied. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine whether a regular meal pattern, or breakfast, lunch or dinner as separate regular meals, is associated with the BMI of children.

Quality of diet and food choices of Finnish young men: a sociodemographic and health behaviour approach.

Objective: Eating habits of Finns have improved dramatically in 40 years. The proportion of fat in the diet has decreased and vegetable and fruit consumption increased. Knowledge of Finnish young men's dietary habits is limited.

Fat free mass and obesity in relation to educational level.

Background: The aim of the study was to describe the body composition of Finnish adults, especially by education, and to investigate whether fat-free mass (FFM) can explain educational gradients relating to body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR).

Methods: Data for this cross-sectional study were based on data collected in 2000-2001 for the Health 2000 Survey. Of the nationally representative sample of 8,028 Finnish men and women aged 30 years and older, 6,300 (78.

Nutrient intake and food use of Finnish conscripts in garrison, on leave, and in encampment conditions.

Background: 80% of Finnish men fill their civic duty and complete military service. Conscripts' dietary habits have been studied limitedly.

Objective: The aim was to determine conscripts' nutrient intake and food use in garrison, on leave, and in encampment conditions.

Sweets and sugar-sweetened soft drink intake in childhood in relation to adult BMI and overweight. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

Objective: To investigate the associations of BMI and overweight in adulthood with consumption of sweets and sugar-sweetened soft drinks in childhood and with the change in consumption between childhood and adulthood.

Design: Longitudinal 21-year follow-up study of Finnish children and adolescents from childhood to adulthood.

Setting: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study, comprising participants from both eastern and western Finland.

Do childhood social circumstances affect overweight and obesity in early adulthood?

Aims: The aim of the study was to examine the association of childhood circumstances with overweight and obesity in early adulthood, to analyse whether the respondent's education and current circumstances mediate these associations, and to explore whether the respondent's health behaviour affects these associations.

Design: This was a cross-sectional study with retrospective inquiries.

Methods: The study was based on a representative two-stage cluster sample (N= 1894, participation rate 79%) of young adults aged 18-29 years in Finland in 2000.

Mapping geographical variation in obesity in Finland.

Background: The prevalence of obesity varies across countries. However, less is known about the geographical, within-country variation. This study investigated and visualized the geographical differences in general obesity defined by body mass index (BMI) and in abdominal obesity defined by waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) in Finland.

Association of age and education with different types of leisure-time physical activity among 4437 Finnish adults.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of age and education with types of leisure-time physical activity in a population sample of Finnish adults.

Methods: The sample, part of the National FINRISK Study, comprised 1940 men and 2497 women age 25 to 64 years. Self-reported questionnaires were used to collect data on education and leisure-time physical activity.

Fifteen-year changes in body mass index and waist circumference in Finnish adults.

Background: Obesity is an increasing health problem. Data on long-term obesity trends are most often based on the measurement of body mass index (BMI). Abdominal obesity, assessed by waist circumference may, however, be more closely related to health risks than overall obesity.

Trends and socioeconomic differences in overweight among physically active and inactive Finns in 1978-2002.

Objective: The aim was to study the associations of physical activity and socioeconomic status with overweight from 1978 to 2002 and to explore whether the trend in overweight was different across educational groups or leisure time and commuting physical activity groups.

Method: The study population comprised 37,084 women and 34,191 men who participated in cross-sectional postal surveys carried out annually from 1978 to 2002. The surveys included independent nationally representative random samples of Finns aged 25 to 64 years.

Consumption of 'extra' foods (energy-dense, nutrient-poor) among children aged 16-24 months from western Sydney, Australia.

Objective: This study evaluates the contribution of energy-dense, nutrient-poor 'extra' foods to the diets of 16-24-month-old children from western Sydney, Australia.

Design: An analysis of cross-sectional data collected on participants in the Childhood Asthma Prevention Study (CAPS), a randomised trial investigating the primary prevention of asthma from birth to 5 years. We collected 3-day weighed food records, calculated nutrient intakes, classified recorded foods into major food groups, and further classified foods as either 'core' or 'extras' according to the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating.

Prevalence of weight cycling and its relation to health indicators in Finland.

Objective: This study was performed to identify weight cyclers and to assess the prevalence of weight cycling and its relation to health indicators in Finnish adults.

Research Methods And Procedures: Data for the study consisted of 3320 men and 3540 women (25 to 64 years of age). The subjects went through a health examination, and data on intentional weight losses and regains during the last 10 years were collected by a questionnaire.

Associations between estimated aerobic fitness and cardiovascular risk factors in adults with different levels of abdominal obesity.

Background: We investigated the association between estimated aerobic fitness and cardiovascular risk factors, and how the association is affected by abdominal obesity.

Design: Cross-sectional population study.

Methods: Participants comprised 3820 adults aged 25 to 64 years from the FINRISK 2002 Study in Finland.

The combined use of cholesterol-lowering drugs and cholesterol-lowering bread spreads: health behavior data from Finland.

Background: Cholesterol-lowering drugs may metabolically interact with cholesterol-lowering bread spreads. This study analyses the prevalence of use of drugs, bread spreads or the combination of both in people aware of their high/elevated cholesterol level, and compares users of the three therapies on health behavior and demographics.

Methods: Participants (9581, 25-74 years) from The National FINRISK 2002 Study filled out a questionnaire on demographics and health (related) issues.

Iron status of adults in the capital area of Finland.

Background: Enrichment of wheat flour with iron, which commenced in Finland in the mid-1970s, ceased in 1994. No data on iron status among adults have been published since 1993.

Aim Of The Study: To assess the iron status, adequacy of iron intake and dietary sources of iron in Finnish adults.