Wednesday, June 18, 2025
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Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

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https://nordictimes.com/health/use-of-obesity-drugs-surges-in-finland/

Health

Use of obesity drugs surges in Finland

Published 27 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Sales of obesity medication have skyrocketed in Finland in just a few years.
1 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The use of obesity medication increased significantly in Finland last year – many more Finns were treated for obesity compared to 2023. At the same time, opinions are divided on the effectiveness of the treatment.

A total of 75,000 Finns used medicines for weight loss or obesity treatment in 2024. This is an increase of 20% compared to 2023, according to the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela). In five years, the number of users has increased more than elevenfold.

Semaglutide, sold under brands such as Ozempic and Wegovy, is the most popular. Originally designed as a drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, this type of medicine is not reimbursed if it is used for obesity alone. This means that Finns have to foot the bill themselves, which can be over €260 each month.

It is also unclear how effective this type of weight loss medication really is, but Pia Pajunen, an expert physician at Kela, says it is not a quick fix for losing weight.

– If you stop using the obesity medication, the weight often starts to increase again quickly. It’s important that both doctors and patients are aware that research shows these medications generally need to be used long-term, she says in a press release.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/health/social-media-feeds-young-people-junk-food-ads/

Health

Social media feeds young people junk food ads

Published 10 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
A large majority of food advertisements that young people are exposed to promote unhealthy products such as fast food, snacks or sugar-sweetened drinks.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The majority of food advertising that young people encounter on social media promotes unhealthy products. This is according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet, where TikTok is identified as the platform with the highest exposure.

The survey is based on data from young people aged 13-16 who, over the course of a week, documented the advertising they saw in their social media feeds. They were given a choice of platform, with most choosing Tiktok or Instagram.

One third of all the ads young people were exposed to were for food or drink – and 70% of these were for unhealthy products such as fast food, snacks or sugar-sweetened drinks.

Exposure was highest on Tiktok, where participants could encounter up to 26 food-related ads per hour. On Instagram, the average was 13.

– In focus group interviews, participants said they were often tempted to make impulse purchases by the design of the ads. At the same time, several expressed a feeling of powerlessness in the face of the amount of advertising they encounter daily, said Sofia Spolander, researcher at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge in a press release.

Childhood obesity doubled

In the focus group, the young people also described how the advertising affected them and increased their cravings for unhealthy food, and that it was difficult to resist consumption.

Overweight among Swedish children aged 11–15 has more than doubled in the past 30 years, and obesity in this age group has quadrupled, according to the study. Young people are eating more unhealthy food than before, while consuming fewer fruits and vegetables. Unhealthy eating habits are one of the leading causes of poor health and premature death in Sweden.

– The food environment influences our eating habits, and marketing is an important part of that environment. This study shows that the advertising young people encounter on social media goes against the dietary guidelines, says Spolander.

The study forms the basis of a new report from UNICEF Sweden and the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation, which highlights how advertising for food and drink in social media affects the health of children and young people.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/health/young-dog-owners-lifestyles-negatively-affect-their-dogs/

Health

Young dog owners’ lifestyles negatively affect their dogs

Published 3 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Today, many people get a pet to fit into their passive lifestyle - rather than adapting to the animal's needs themselves.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Stressed and overweight dog owners feel their lifestyle also impacts their dogs, according to a new Novus survey commissioned by Arken Zoo’s veterinary services. The effect is especially noticeable among younger owners, who report that their own health issues spill over onto their pets.

The survey, conducted between March and April 2025, gathered responses from 1,046 Swedish pet owners aged 18 to 84 about their own and their dog’s well-being. The results reveal a strong link between owner lifestyle and pet health.

Half of pet owners consider themselves overweight, with two in ten not exercising at all. A quarter of dog owners say they walk their dog for an hour a day at most, while 18% say their dog is overweight. Veterinarian Per Bransell says the results are “alarming”, but not surprising.

– Today, many people get an animal to fit into the owner’s lifestyle instead of the owner adapting to the animal. Getting a pet is a commitment every day, not just on weekends and holidays, he said in a press release.

Young adults struggle – so do their dogs

Among pet owners aged 18 to 34, 31% say they walk their dogs no more than an hour a day, and 23% report their pets are overweight.

Young owners also experience higher levels of stress: 42% see themselves as stressed, and 24% believe that stress affects their dogs. Staff at Hundstallet, a dog shelter that rehomes animals, say the survey aligns with what they see every day.

– People are increasingly unwell, and it has a direct impact on animals. We see a clear rise in dogs arriving in both poor physical and mental condition — often depressed, lacking proper veterinary care or stimulation, says Johnny Kroneld, Head of Communications & Fundraising at Hundstallet.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/health/good-fitness-may-prevent-dementia/

Health

Good fitness may prevent dementia

Published 27 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
1 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

People at risk of dementia can reduce their risk by improving their fitness, according to a study from Karolinska Institutet. The study shows that the risk can be reduced by up to 35%.

In the study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers used data from 61,214 dementia-free people, drawn from the UK Biobank database. The participants, who were aged between 39 and 70, were followed over a period of 12 years.

On enrollment, participants completed a six-minute cycle test to measure fitness, and neurological tests were done to estimate their cognitive function. The researchers also examined genetic predisposition to dementia.

During the 12-year follow-up period, a total of 553 people were diagnosed with dementia, representing 0.9%.

The results show that better fitness is linked to reduced dementia risk and improved cognitive function. According to Weili Xu, Professor of Geriatric Epidemiology in the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, good fitness can reduce the risk of all forms of dementia by up to 35%.

– Our findings suggest that maintaining good fitness may be a strategy for preventing dementia, even among people with high genetic susceptibility, she says in a press release.

The researchers also emphasize that this is an observational study, so it is not possible to determine cause and effect. The number of dementia cases may also have been underestimated, they add, as UK Biobank participants are generally healthier than the general population.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/health/ultra-processed-food-may-increase-the-risk-of-cardiovascular-disease/

Health

Ultra-processed food may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease

Published 21 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Extra-processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages are linked to a particularly increased risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease, according to a study from Lund University.

Ultra-processed food is food that has undergone extensive processing and contains a high proportion of added chemicals compared to “regular” processed food. This type of food is often cheap, heavily marketed and has become an increasingly important part of the Western diet in recent years.

In the study, published in Clinical Nutrition, researchers followed 27 670 participants from the Malmö Diet Cancer Study over 23 years, with funding from the Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation.

The results show that a high intake of highly processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages is linked to an increased risk of premature death, death from cardiovascular disease and death from respiratory disease. There is an increased risk for women.

– Over-processed foods are often rich in salt, fat and added sugars, but often poor in fiber, vitamins and nutrients. Limiting intake can reduce the risk of premature death, says Emily Sonestedt, associate professor at Lund University and lead researcher of the study, in a press release.

Ultra-processed food is markedly different from what humans have been eating for thousands of years, but the long-term effects on health have yet to be studied in depth. However, links between this type of food have previously been made to depression and type 2 diabetes. At the same time, the researchers point out that more studies are needed on the subject.

–  More research is needed to better understand how ultra-processed food affects the body. In future studies, we will be able to analyze current dietary data in the Swedish population and learn more about the relationship with cardiovascular disease, says Kristina Sparreljung, Secretary General of the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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