Health, food and physical activity

Healthy eating and physical activity are for any person essential elements to promote health and quality of life. It is the overall ambition of the Nordic Council of Ministers to promote good health and quality of life on equal terms for all Nordic citizens. However, studies indicate that the development is going in the wrong direction with unhealthy eating habits, physical inactivity and overweight becoming increasingly more endemic. This does not only threaten the quality of life of the individual but also the economy of society. The Nordic Council of Ministers have therefore adopted a common Nordic Plan of Action in order to support the initiatives already taken by the individual Nordic countries with regards to promoting healthy eating and physical activity and preventing overweight. The Plan of Action contains common Nordic ambitions for the development in dietary habits, physical activity and prevalence of overweight to be reached by 2011. In addition the plan contains preliminary visions for status in 2021. The Plan of Action includes common areas of priority to reach the ambitions and specifically singles out 3 main areas for a closer Nordic cooperation: Development of common methods for monitoring efforts to promote healthy eating and physical activity. Increased sharing of knowledge on the effects of existing initiatives and later also cooperation on "best practice". Research and development of methods. The Plan of Action also constitutes a common Nordic contribution to the international efforts for prevention of overweight and promotion of healthy lifestyle.