Estonia Increasingly Becoming an Overweight Nation
While most indicators for the nation's health are improving - including overall life expectancy - the problem of obesity is getting worse, said Minister of Social Affairs Hanno Pevkur, presenting his health development plan at a press conference on July 21.
Overweight people accounted for 32 percent of the nation's population in 2010, giving rise to accompanying worries, such as high cholestrol and heart disease, the minister said. Calling the development a "bad trend," Pevkur said: "Everyone should play a part to improve their behavioral and physical activities and other habits."
On a positive note, alcohol consumption has declined: during the 2008 peak, the country consumed 12.6 liters of pure alcohol per person per year; in 2010, the stat fell to 9.7 liters.
The number of HIV infections also dropped last year by 10 percent. But the virus continues to be a problem, mainly in northeastern Estonia and the capital. Those two areas account for, respectively, 45 and 44 percent of nation's total HIV cases.
The state aims to lower the count to 20 cases per 100,000 people as a national average, compared to the current 100 cases per 100,000 in the before-mentioned hot spots.
Ott Tammik