A new nutrition study examines the eating habits and nutritional intake of young people
During the school year 2024–2025, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is studying the food habits and nutritional intake of young people.
The National Youth Nutrition Study will be carried out for the first time. Over 3,000 young people from different parts of Finland will be invited to participate in the study. Data collection began in September.
Until now, Finland has lacked national information on the food habits and nutritional intake of young people.
Information from the study is needed to support decision-making in order to promote young people’s health and sustainable and healthy nutrition. The results of the survey can be utilised in regional and national decision-making, healthcare, food services and the food industry.
The pilot study highlighted areas in need of improvement in young people’s nutrition
The pilot study for the Youth Nutrition Study was conducted at three schools in Helsinki and three in Tampere in autumn 2021. Approximately 100 young people aged 14–16 participated in the pilot.
The results of the study indicated problems in young people’s nutrition. Young people were not eating enough vegetables, fruit and berries. Boys ate a lot of red and processed meat. Moreover, young people's intake of several nutrients was low in comparison with the recommendations.
“The results of the pilot highlighted the need for a study covering the whole of Finland. Nutrition and food habits during adolescence have long-term impacts on health and welfare. Poor nutrition during adolescence exposes people to overweight, illnesses and many risk factors of illnesses and is also linked to mental wellbeing”, states Research Professor and Study Director Suvi Virtanen.
The study will be conducted as an interview
More than 3,000 young people from 17 different municipalities will be invited to participate in the study. The participants are from the seventh and ninth grades of lower secondary school and the first and second year of upper secondary school. The participating municipalities and schools were selected to ensure the broadest possible representation of different geographical and socio-economic areas in the sample.
The nutritional intake of young people is studied by interviewing them on their eating and drinking habits. Blood samples are also collected from some of the participants to collect information on nutritional status and metabolism.
In addition to the study carried out in lower secondary school and upper secondary school, interviews are also conducted at State-owned reform schools, Sospro children's homes and Vamos activities. One hundred young people aged 15–29 will be recruited for this interview study.
Further information:
Suvi Virtanen
Research Professor, Study Director
THL
Tel. +358 29 524 8729
[email protected]
Sari Niinistö
Research Manager, Chief Researcher
THL
Tel. +358 29 524 7249
[email protected]
Mirka Väisänen, Mirva Koreasalo, Tuuli Salo, Hanna-Mari Takkinen, Susanna Raulio, Suvi Virtanen. A pilot study of nutrition monitoring in adolescents (in Finnish). Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). Working paper 33/2023.
Youth Nutrition Study - Vamos, State-owned reform schools and children's homes (in Finnish)
