Danes consume more sugar but have lower obesity rates — Cyprus Mail

In Denmark, approximately one in five people has a body mass index above 30, while in the United Kingdom, approximately one in three people has obesity. At the same time, Danes consume an average of 57 kg of sugar per person annually, compared with 44 kg for Britons, Cyprus Mail reports.

Differences in diet

The article’s author attributes Denmark’s lower obesity rate not to avoiding sweets, but to the overall diet and lifestyle. An important part of Danish cuisine is smørrebrød — open-faced sandwiches on rye bread, often accompanied by fish and vegetables. Berries, cabbage, carrots, beets and parsnips are also common in the diet.

Traditional Danish rye bread is fermented and baked with whole grains and seeds. The article calls it the foundation of the national dietary strategy and nutrition recommendations. According to the author’s assessment, the Danish dietary model emphasizes seasonal products, home cooking and fewer highly processed meals.

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Share of ultra-processed products

In the United Kingdom, people get 44% of their daily energy from ultra-processed foods and drinks — the highest figure in Europe, the article states. In Denmark, this figure is 25%. Such products usually contain a lot of salt, sugar and fats, but little fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals.

The author also points to Denmark’s low smoking rate, reduced alcohol consumption, participation in sports and prevention policies. As an example of lifestyle differences, she describes Copenhagen, where people cycle to work and school, while cautioning that such comparisons may be stereotypical and depend on income and lifestyle.

In the United Kingdom, the obesity rate rose from approximately 15% in 1993 to 29% in England, 32% in Scotland and 26% in Wales, according to the latest estimates cited.