The cost of obesity in Finland has exceeded €7 billion per year

The growing number of citizens suffering from obesity and related diseases costs the Finnish government about €7 billion a year, according to Professor Pertti Mustajoki.

According to previously published research, obesity-related diseases cost the Finnish healthcare system an additional 3.5 billion euros annually. Currently, this amount is higher because obesity is constantly on the rise, and more effective but also more expensive anti-obesity drugs have been introduced, Moustadjoki writes in his article for Helsingin Sanomat.

The expert notes that in Finland, more than 1 million people suffer from fatty liver disease, 700 thousand people have sleep disorders and 400 thousand people suffer from type II diabetes, and all these diseases are caused by obesity. People who are overweight are also significantly at risk of cardiovascular diseases, stroke, kidney failure, gout, certain cancers and other diseases.

In addition to health care costs, being overweight reduces labor productivity, which increases the costs associated with sick leave and early retirement due to obesity. According to the researchers, Finland's cost of these expenses is at least equal to the cost of treating diseases related to obesity, the article notes.

Heart fat: the worst diseases caused by excess weight

Overweight people should take care of their liver, kidneys, and joints first.

Science Daily magazine noted on May 17 that avoiding food for a long period triggers systemic biological changes in the body that affect brain function, metabolism, and the immune system, with key molecular shifts beginning only after three days of fasting.