Maija Pekkarinen

The diet of Finnish Lapps

SummaryA dietary survey by the interview method was undertaken on the Finnish Lapps in 1960. Data on the food consumption of 135 families including 812 persons in all was collected.The average energy intake varies from 2250 to 2775 kcal in the different Lapp groups, when estimating the waste and refuse at approximately 15% of the total food consumed. The intake of energy may be considered adequate, since the Lapps are of normal physique according to height, weight, and skinfold measurements.The intake of some essential nutrients is scarce, especially that of calcium of the Skolt Lapps, which after deduction of waste is only 370 mg per day. The daily intake of ascorbic acid in the nomadic Mountain Lapp and Skolt groups is as low as 30 mg. Considering the losses of ascorbic acid in food preparation, the intake of this vitamin is very low in both these groups.Of the groups studied, the food of the Skolt Lapps is clearly the poorest.

Diet and Physical Activity of Men in East and West Finland in 1969

The purpose of the study was to discover the effects of physical activity on mens diets. The food consumption of 1306 men aged 50 to 69 years was studied using the dietary history method. The men were grouped in four classes according to their physical activity. With increasing activity their consumptions of cereals, potatoes, milk and milk products, fats and sugar increased. The men in East Finland used more milk, butter and fish than those in the West. The consumption of cereals, potatoes and eggs was higher in West than in East Finland. The intake of energy and energy yielding nutrients was greatly dependent on the physical activity but their contributions to the total energy intake were independent. The consumption of minerals and vitamins was adequate in all activity classes. The changes in the diet caused by physical activity seemed to be more quantitative than qualitative.