Lifestyle factors and obesity in young adults - changes in the 2000s in Finland

Young adulthood is a life stage that is vulnerable to detrimental lifestyle changes and excessive weight gain, which may have major effects on health later in life. This study aimed to examine the changes in lifestyle-related factors in the 2000s and sociodemographic differences in lifestyle in Finnish young adults.

The study was based on the cross-sectional data from two representative samples of Finnish young adults aged 18-29 years from the Health 2000 Survey (n = 1894; 90% participated) and the FinHealth 2017 Study (n = 1162; 54% participated). Sociodemographic factors, lifestyle choices (smoking, alcohol consumption, intake of vegetables, physical activity), and anthropometrics were self-reported. Weighted prevalence based on predictive margins and odds ratios were analyzed using logistic regression, taking into account the sampling design and non-response.

The prevalence of daily cigarette smoking decreased between the years 2000 and 2017 from 34% to 12% (p < 0.01) and from 23% to 11% (p < 0.01) in men and women, respectively. There was a decline in the prevalence of daily intake of fresh vegetables, especially in men. The prevalence of obesity (BMI ⩾ 30 kg/m²) doubled being 15% in men and 18% in women in 2017. Health-endangering lifestyles, measured by a lifestyle sum score, were more common among young adults with lower education compared to those with higher.

This study showed both favorable and unfavorable changes in the lifestyles of Finnish young adults in the 2000s. Health-endangering lifestyles were more common among young adults with lower education, suggesting the need for tailored health-promoting actions. Special attention should be given to obesity prevention.