Country Report: Sweden General Conclusions Basic Facts Health and Nutrition Health Related Initiatives Climate Change
General conclusion Health in Sweden has improved for many decades Many health problems have decreased over time Increased prosperity Better education Better care and knowledge of how health can be promoted
Basic Facts Geography Demography Agriculture Public Health Organisation
Geographical information Basic facts: Land area: 40,7 million hectares Arable land: 2,6 million hectares (6,4 percent) Forest: 23 million hectares (56 percent), Pasture: 0,5 million hectares (1,2 percent).
Population Demographics Developments since 1992 The population has grown from around 8.6 to 9.4 million inhabitants The average life expectancy is increasing By the year 2060 +6 years for men, to 85 years +4 years for women to 87 years Immigration is also increasing. In 2011 From 15% to 18% in 2060
Agriculture Fewer and larger farms More specialized in areas like cereals, dairy or the rearing of pigs and poultry Dairy holdings -75 % Dairy cows -35 % Average yield per cow has increased strongly Sweden EU-member since 1995 part of EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
Public Health Organisation Government National Food Agency National Institute for Public Health The National Board of Health and Welfare
National Food Agency Safe foods; Fair practices in the food trade Healthy dietary habits
National Institute for Public Health Monitoring and coordinating the implementation of the national public health policy National expert agency for the development and dissemination of methods and strategies in the field of public health
National Board of Health and Welfare: Social services, Health and medical services, Environmental health, Communicable disease prevention Epidemiology
COUNTY COUNCILS Prevent ill health Give information to the patients Maternal and child healthcare clinics Hospitals
MUNICIPALITIES Schools Child care Environment Elderly and persons with disabilities
Health and Nutrition National Dietary Studies Overweight and Obesity Health and Socio-Economic Factors
National Dietary Studies Positive changes in food intake, more fruits and vegetables could be even better Saltintake was high (7.5 g/day) Older people (+64) ate more wholesome Young adults (18 30 years) have the worst food habits Young women has a low intake of vitamin D, folate and iron Swedish children get almost one fourth of their energy intake from energy-dense, low-nutrient foods The consumption of energy-dense and low-nutrient items and soft drinks has increased
Overweight and Obesity The proportion of overweight or obesity has increased; about half of all men and over a third of all women are overweight or obese Children Portion and package sizes have grown
Health and Socio-Economic Factors Low level of education or low incomes shorter average life expectancy and indicate worse health than the rest of the population More cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes in rural municipalities than in urban communities
Health related initiatives in Sweden The National Skills Center for Public Meals School Meals Good Eating Habits in Health Care Encouraging Breastfeeding The Keyhole symbol
The National Skills Center for Public Meals Within the framework of the National Food Agency Contributes to coordinating and developing the strengths and knowledge of actors all diners in healthcare, education and elderly care shall enjoy the food they are eating and be nourished by it
School Meals A new Education Act 2011: Free and nutritious school meals Potential effects on attention, learning A pedagogic tool: a practical way to teach about diet, health etc.
Good Eating Habits in Health Care Guidelines Hospitals Health care
School Meals A new Education Act 2011: Free and nutritious school meals Potential effects on attention, learning A pedagogic tool: a practical way to teach about diet, health etc.
Encouraging Breastfeeding Exclusive breastfeeding is declining in Sweden. Encourage exclusive breastfeeding for infants during the first 6 months Sweden has a national breastfeeding committee The Committee works with individual organizations and different professions within the healthcare system
The Keyhole symbol A food label which identifies healthier food products within a product group Less salt and sugar Better fats and more fibre Not for snacks, sweets and soft drinks Norway and Denmark: 2009 A dialogue with the food industry has been performed, a dialogue that now will proceed in a coordinated group for health promotion
Climate Change Agriculture and Climate Change Eco-Smart Food Choices Minimize Food Waste
Agriculture and Climate Change Swedish agriculture might benefit from a warmer climate Longer growing seasons, higher yields and new crops Increased rainfall and changing precipitation patterns, may require new farming methods and increased irrigation Changes in the distribution patterns of plant pests and changes in weed flora Affect domestic animals A warmer climate may alter the spread of parasites and contagious diseases.
Eco-Smart Food Choices The Swedish National Food Agency has put forward information on how the consumption of different food affect the environment About a quarter of the greenhouse gas emissions that Swedish consumption causes comes from the food eaten, that is, from the emissions of greenhouse gases from food on its way from field to fork
Minimize Food Waste Every year, the average Swede throws away around 30 kilograms of perfectly edible food, and Swedish households, restaurants and caterers together throw away food equivalent to a carbon footprint of 2 million tons a year Concrete advice on how to minimize the food waste is available to the public on the National Food Agency s website
THANK YOU! catharina.rosqvist@gov.se katarina.wahlgren@gov.se