Ugly Health and Absence Statistics in Finland Are the Result of an Anti-Preventive Health Policy
If more attention were paid to preventive health care in Finland, we would see far fewer cases of illness, absenteeism, and early retirement due to medical reasons.
Finland’s resistance to preventive measures is visible in many areas:
- National nutrition recommendations (which institutional kitchens are required to follow) still promote excessive intake of fattening fast carbohydrates like grains, potatoes, and sugar. A large proportion of those who lose their health are overweight or obese. Finland is among the most overweight nations in Europe, and the trend is worsening.
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Finland’s official vitamin D recommendations are only about one-fifth of what independent international experts suggest. This severely weakens the immune system and increases the risk of cancer, diabetes, infections, and chronic low-grade inflammation.
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Modern ergonomic solutions have not been widely adopted in Finnish workplaces. For example, saddle chairs with a two-part seat – proven to support pelvic and spinal health – are still rare. As a result, musculoskeletal disorders are extremely common.
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Alcohol-related harm is not effectively addressed, even though the consequences are massive. Hidden alcoholism (especially harmful to the brain and liver) spreads silently and contributes to weight gain. Yet alcohol consumption could be reduced without any form of prohibition.
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Doctors often prescribe medications with known side effects for lifestyle-related conditions, when the correct approach would be to guide patients through lifestyle changes and treat the root causes without drugs.
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Medical education in Finland is heavily focused on pharmacology, while preventive care, nutrition, and non-pharmaceutical treatments are barely covered. This has consequences: many doctors themselves are overweight and in poor shape. Patients are not even asked about their diets, nor are nutrient or fiber deficiencies investigated – because doctors lack both training and national treatment guidelines outside of drug therapy.
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Patient organizations in Finland are often heavily influenced by health care providers and the pharmaceutical industry, which reduces their ability to promote prevention.
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The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) collaborates with pharmaceutical companies when it should be monitoring global preventive health research and adapting it to Finland’s needs.
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Health care in Finland is often hostile toward supplements, even though many patients have clear nutritional deficiencies.
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The pharmaceutical industry continues to build deep-rooted dependencies in clinics, hospitals, and among doctors – sometimes beginning as early as medical school. These connections hinder the implementation of preventive care. Especially concerning are the ties between senior physicians and the pharmaceutical industry, which are a major public health risk.
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There are no effective regulations on junk food and harmful products, allowing companies to market them freely – even to children, who are increasingly addicted to unhealthy foods at the expense of their future health.
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Finns receive little to no proper education about self-directed prevention and healthy living. Public health campaigns lack the depth and consistency needed to help people internalize the knowledge that would lead to real, lasting changes in lifestyle and consumption habits.
