A long-term study using questionnaires and measurements from 1987 to 2007, which was not completely completed until 2014 after monitoring the mortality rate, shown in men and women aged 25 to 74 years at that time that the lifestyle of the subjects had a significant influence on their life expectancy, namely negative in most cases. Researchers in the study by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare were able to identify the influencing factors such as smoking, alcohol, diabetes, stress and insufficient physical activity particularly clearly in 30-year-olds of both sexes, although older people were also affected almost as frequently. According to the study, all of the risk factors listed result in a shortened life expectancy. This was particularly clear in men who were 30 years old. According to this study, smoking and diabetes have the greatest impact on life expectancy, with life expectancy shortened by 6.6 years and 6.5 years respectively. But stress (2.8 years) and lack of exercise (2.4 years) also contribute to this. For women of the same age, the values are slightly lower. The consumption of healthy food had a positive influence on life expectancy, especially fruit scored with 1.4 years more life expectancy, but also vegetables (0.9 years). In earlier studies, often only factors such as age, gender and education were used. This study situation shows that – if the risk factors listed above remain the same – education plays a subordinate role. However, the above risk factors occur mainly in the weaker social groups, so that mortality is increased there due to harmful lifestyle choices. Consequently, the author of the Finnish National FINRISK Study, Tommi Härkänen, recommends support for people with lower levels of education to make better lifestyle choices.
