Promoting a healthy weight in children and youth in the Nordic region

Background

Children’s living environments have changed over recent decades. The internet, touchscreens and smartphones have contributed to children spending more time in front of screens and becoming more sedentary. Meanwhile, the range of cheap, energy-dense and nutritionally poor foods and drinks has increased. Junk food has become more readily available and is marketed directly to children in both the physical and digital environments.

Overweight and obesity have increased among children and young people in the Nordic region and can contribute to many forms of physical and psychosocial health problems in children. Comorbidities previously seen only in adults – such as type 2 diabetes and disorders in the body’s fat metabolism – are now also occurring in children. It is common for children to carry their excess weight into adulthood, which increases the risk of, for example, infertility and common diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease later in life.

The causal links behind overweight and obesity are multifactorial. Systematic efforts across various policy areas are required to promote a healthy weight. These efforts must be designed with the understanding that children’s environments at home, at school and during leisure time vary with their age. For the individual, healthy growth during childhood provides a solid foundation for lifelong health. Society, too, has much to gain from promoting healthy weight development among children and youth.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity varies across the Nordic countries. Policies in this area also differ, and there are good opportunities for the countries to learn and draw inspiration from one another’s policy initiatives.

Results

The project Promoting a healthy weight among children and young people in the Nordic region aims to describe and compare structural interventions designed to promote healthy growth in children. Data collection is based on international recommendations on structural measures to prevent childhood obesity. The results will be presented in a report published by the Nordic Welfare Centre at the end of 2026.

The project is being carried out in collaboration with the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the Nordic Welfare Centre and the Nordic expert network PromoKids.