Exercise: Mika Poutala’s speech in parliament caused a social storm – this is how expert Tommi Vasankari commented

Congressman Mika Poutalan (kd)’s speech in the parliament on Wednesday of last week started a heated debate.

Poutala spoke about changing citizens’ lifestyles to be healthier.

The way in which Poutala approached the matter made many MPs from the opposition parties angry.

“Dear Speaker! We need to invest more in preventive action. What can also be done is the same thing, which does not cost anything, namely healthy lifestyles: good sleep, better quality nutrition, sufficient exercise. Each of us is certainly able to improve our own situation a little”, Poutala said in the middle of the debate on social and health services.

Poutalan the speech received not only an encouraging reception. In particular, the opposition criticized Poutala’s speech.

For example, the Left Alliance Timo Furuholm pointed out that health challenges and lower income classes “go hand in hand”.

“With its actions, the government of our country pushes e.g. thousands of children into child family poverty. After that comes a “free” tip about versatile food and good sleep. The understanding of society is really weak”, Furuholm in Suomi X.

The disagreement was not about whether Poutala was right in his lifestyle tips, but about how, in Furuholm’s opinion, the government’s policy contributes to the implementation of these issues.

“I don’t disagree with the things mentioned in this tweet, but they are connected to inequality in society, etc. I also want to make the kind of policy that is talked about,” Furuholm continued.

UKK Institute manager Tommi Vasankari says that he understands Poutala and his supporters, but equally Furuholm.

The nation’s life repair and its means have been a frequent topic of conversation in Finland for decades, Vasankari reminds.

“Poutala is absolutely right that going for a walk is completely free. Sufficient exercise, quality food and quality sleep are things that we could all do better by doing. That will never change. Quite a lot of people are able to promote those issues with their own activities,” Vasankari begins.

Afterwards, he points out that there are many social factors that can make it difficult to achieve the goals. People can have illnesses, for example, and others, for example, their work situation, lack of money or many other things can affect both eating and sleep quality.

In other words, it’s not always that a person can just “grab himself by the scruff of the neck”, as they say.

In his later social media post, Poutala wondered if the incident was due to him denying individual responsibility.

Vasankari points out that political decisions could help people in a weaker position to achieve healthier lifestyles.

“It’s more expensive to eat healthy, that’s undeniable. For decades, the food industry has been built in such a way that it is cheaper to buy fatty food than a healthy alternative,” Vasankari points out.

“It could be the other way around. For example, could food taxation be emphasized so that healthy foods are favored and less healthy ones are vaccinated?”

Still In any case, a leftist does not want to deny the idea that many people have the tools to improve their own situation.

For those for whom it is more difficult due to their health or social situation, in Vasankar’s opinion, support measures for lifestyle guidance would be needed.

“We need ways to reach people in new ways. Before these things were done face-to-face at the reception. Today, we have to find different ways to implement it, for example health technology”, guidance in groups and using peer support.

“If society doesn’t have euros, you have to be smarter and develop new effective methods.”

Vasankari suggests that some kind of social incentives could be a tool to inspire people to change.

“What would make it work? Would it be related to taxation or some kind of benefit? Then it might be possible to better reach those who have a more difficult life situation and a tighter budget.”

“The population’s weight and fitness results show that we have been going in the wrong direction for the past twenty years. It will be an even more expensive bill for society if we do nothing,” says Vasankari.

“And yet the fact does not change for any reason that better sleep and eating and more exercise is always a recipe for better well-being”, summarizes Vasankari.