"Striving for a healthier Lifestyle"

The Unit of Preventive Nutrition strives for excellency in research within the fields for which it is named. We see it as our responsibility to use the resources entrusted to us in the best possible way for the greater good of science and the general public.

Our field of work is primarily public health-related nutrition and physical activity. Public health nutrition ("folkhälsonutrition") is an expanding and very interesting field of study, and of growing importance for health and well being of individuals as well as whole populations. Our interests lie in the physiological, psychosocial and environmental aspects of both prevention and promotion of nutrition, physical activity and health.

While infection diseases are in decline, lifestyle risk behaviours, including sedentary living, over-nutrition and smoking are now the leading cause of death and ill-health in the Western World. But while the prevalence of smoking is decreasing, most factors indicate that sedentary lifestyles and insufficient food habits are prevalent in a majority of the population. Reflecting this trend, we are convinced that the promotion of physical activity and healthy eating habits therefore are the most effective ways to promote healthy living and well being in society.

Michael Sjöström, Head of Unit