Finnish survey reveals that tobacco use affects health from the age of 36

Smoking, drinking alcohol and being physically inactive during early adulthood significantly harm health from the age of 36, according to a study conducted in Finland by Laurea University of Applied Sciences.[1]The researchers followed 326 people born in 1959 for more than 30 years, assessing their physical and mental health at ages 27, 36, 42, 50, and 61. They said the findings are likely to apply to people born in Finland and other Western countries in the late 1950s and 1960s. However, they may not be as relevant to younger generations, due to cultural and societal changes, and partly due to different risk-taking behaviors seen today.[2].

The impact of bad habits acquired at 20, noticeable from 36 and over the long term

Mental health was measured using questionnaires assessing depressive symptoms and psychological well-being. Physical health was assessed using a metabolic risk score based on blood pressure, waist circumference, blood glucose, cholesterol, and blood lipids. Participants were also asked to rate their own health over the past year. Depressive symptoms and general psychological well-being were measured on a scale of 1 to 4; self-rated health was measured on a scale of 1 to 5; and metabolic risk was assessed on a scale of 0 to 5.[3].

The researchers found that people who engaged in risky behaviors – such as smoking, drinking alcohol (at least 7,000g/875 units of alcohol per year for women and 10,000g/1,250 units per year for men) and exercising only once a week or less – saw their mental and physical health deteriorate from the age of 36.

While some of the dangers of smoking on physical health are already well known, such as lung cancer, heart and respiratory problems, the study reveals that these three behaviors also increase depressive symptoms by 0.1 points, the metabolic score by 0.53 points, reduce psychological well-being by 0.1 points and self-rated health by 0.45 points.

Researchers have also established that the relationship between physical and mental health is a two-way street. For example, a stressed person may drink heavily to cope. This can lead to problems with family and friends, leading to a deterioration in their mental well-being.

The importance of quickly correcting these risky behaviors

The negative effects worsen when these habits persist over the long term. In the Finnish study, when participants combined all three harmful behaviors over several years, the impact on health was even more pronounced: depressive symptoms increased by 0.38 points, metabolic risk score by 1.49 points, psychological well-being fell by 0.14 points, and self-rated health decreased by 0.45 points.

Lead researcher Dr. Tiia Kekäläinen noted that non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer are responsible for nearly three-quarters of deaths worldwide. She emphasized that adopting a healthier lifestyle can reduce the risk of chronic diseases and premature death. She also emphasized that it is crucial to address risky behaviors as early as possible, as their harmful effects begin to accumulate in people's thirties. However, she emphasized that it is never too late to change habits: even in middle age, improvements are beneficial for both short- and long-term health.

Finland has committed to a tobacco and nicotine-free society. Regarding consumption new nicotine products, the rate of young Finnish users of nicotine pouches is estimated at 9.% and the number of daily smokers over the age of 15 at 9.9TP3T, for a smoking prevalence of the overall population of 20.8TP3T. As part of this strategy to quit smoking and nicotine, the country continues to adopt measures such as the introduction of plain cigarette packaging on 1^er May 2023[4], the ban on flavors in e-liquids, except tobacco flavor, while continuing a continuous tax policy of tax increases on these products[5].

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[1]Searles Michael, Drinking and smoking in early adulthood affects health by age 36, The Telegraph, published April 25, 2025, accessed April 28, 2025

[2]Kekäläinen, T., Ahola, J., Reinilä, E., Savikangas, T., Kinnunen, ML, Pitkänen, T., & Kokko, K., Cumulative associations between health behaviors, mental well-being, and health over 30 years, Annals of Medicine, 57(1), published April 24, 2025, accessed April 28, 2025

[3]Kirby Jane, The age when effects of smoking, drinking and lack of exercise can seriously harm your body, Independent, published April 24, 2025, accessed April 28, 2025

[4]Tobacco-free generation, Laos adopts plain packaging for cigarettes, published October 9, 2024, accessed April 28, 2025

[5]Tobacco-free generation, Estonia calls on EU to tighten vaping regulations, published July 21, 2024, accessed April 28, 2025

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