New Nordic health report shows worsening diets, rising overweight and persistent inequalities

03.12.2025 - A new edition of the Nordic Monitoring report, NORMO 2025, paints a troubling picture of health behaviours across the Nordic region. The data, released this week by the Nordic Council of Ministers, shows that people in the Nordic countries are eating more unhealthy foods, moving less, and experiencing record levels of overweight. According to the report, 56 percent of adults and one in five children now have overweight or obesity, a marked increase since 2014. These trends are driven by falling intake of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, combined with rising consumption of sugary foods and drinks. Energy drink use has more than doubled over the past decade, particularly among young adults.

The report also highlights deep social inequalities. People with lower levels of education consistently report poorer diets, higher rates of overweight, and greater use of nicotine products. Similar inequalities appear in alcohol consumption patterns. While overall alcohol consumption in the Nordic region has remained stable from 2014 to 2024, the report shows clear national and demographic differences. Denmark continues to record the highest frequency of drinking and binge drinking, while Iceland and Finland remain the lowest. Men and young adults report higher consumption and more binge drinking than women and older adults. Importantly, the report notes that alcohol use is significantly higher among adults with lower educational levels, mirroring the broader pattern of socioeconomic health disparities. These findings are consistent with earlier waves of Nordic monitoring and with variations in national alcohol policies.

Beyond diet, inactivity remains widespread. Up to one third of adults do not meet recommended levels of physical activity, and screen time is high across all age groups. Children show similar, and in some cases worse, patterns.

Taken together, the findings suggest a region moving further away from the goals of the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations and the Nordic Vision 2030. The Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Karen Ellemann, calls the results a clear call to action and stresses that stronger policy tools are needed to support healthier, more sustainable lifestyles across the region.

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Source: Nordisk Samarbejde