Vessi’s expert comment, HS 22 April 2026
https://www.hs.fi/mielipide/art-2000011959068.html

Why are we not lean? Obesity and its related diseases, as well as other major public health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, depression, allergies, osteoarthritis, dysbiosis, etc., degrade the quality of life of individuals, as well as the finances of families, employers, and the nation, and weaken our country.

Of course, these issues must be discussed, and awareness of their root causes—unhealthy lifestyles—must be maintained at a high level. However, the biggest culprit behind unhealthy lifestyles is the state, which does very little to improve the health environment.

Sports facilities and restrictions on intoxicants, tobacco, and some toxins are still far from sufficient. In rational public health policy, there would be dozens of effective ways to prevent obesity and other major killers, but the government has chosen to leave us to be brainwashed by the advertising departments of multinational corporations into consuming and becoming addicted to junk, harmful, and comfort products.

What chances does a child from a low-educated and poorly health-literate working-class family have to learn healthy eating habits, when in their environment they have already seen around 70,000 junk food advertisements before even starting school? None. Obesity with its many related diseases is the most likely health future.

However, that same child has a much better chance of not learning to smoke or use drugs, because in those areas public health has developed guidance measures, restrictions, and prevention mechanisms.

The same should apply to all clearly harmful consumption habits. There are already many ready-made and well-considered solutions available.

Our national economy is already in a state of crisis due to junk consumption, which produces vast amounts of expensive diseases to treat, reduces productivity, and creates large numbers of people falling behind in all age groups.