A FINNISH health campaign may hold the key to tackling Scotland’s growing obesity problem, a SWRI conference in Montrose heard yesterday.

Ninewells Hospital’s professor of food choice Annie Anderson urged the Institute members to lead community-based health campaigns in her keynote speech at Montrose Town Hall.

She said the north Karelia project, which began in a region of eastern Finland, started in 1972 and has managed to stabilise the area’s high level of obesity over the past 20 years.

She said, “The project’s aim was to reduce obesity and disease by changing lifestyle factors associated with coronary heart disease.

“Over 20 years the number of vegetables people in the area consumed trebled, fruit intake doubled and the amount of fat and saturated fat people consumed decreased.

“These are goals that we should be aiming for in Scotland.

“Between 1980 and 2002 obesity in Britain has soared from 7 to 25%.

“In Finland they had a much higher obesity level to start with, around 20%, but it has kept at this level.

“The Finish project was so successful because groups in rural communities and villages ran initiatives.

“Sometimes people ignore Government advice, but feel more involved when it is community led.

“The Finish Women’s Institute was very involved in the project and it shows what can be done when the community plays a part.”

Professor Anderson said physical activity was important in preventing cancer and recommended between 30 minutes and 60 minutes of moderate physical activity a day.

She continued, “The 60 minutes doesn’t have to be done all at once. I thought that walking the dog every night could contribute to my 60 minutes. The only problem was that I didn’t have a dog, but I go for a walk round the block after every meal.

“Children need twice as much exercise as adults, but more children are spending time in front of a computer and a television than they used to.”

Other factors that contribute to the increasing weight problems in the country, was a more sedentary lifestyle and people consuming more fast food.

Professor Anderson added, “One milkshake being sold at a fast food restaurant contained pieces of peanut butter cookies. One portion contained 2000 calories.

“Carbonated sweet drinks contain a lot of calories, but people still feel hungry and go on to consume more.

“These sugary drinks are heavily marketed and available everywhere.”