Public Health Weekly from the National Institute of Public Health

Municipality Gains Overview of the Health of 7,000 Children and Young People

The National Institute of Public Health is providing data for a new website that presents information on the health and well-being of all children and young people in Ishøj Municipality. The aim is to give the municipality a comprehensive and robust evidence base that makes it easier to identify public health challenges.

Many Parents Lack Clear Guidance on Children's Well-being

New report shows that many parents find it difficult to assess when their child's reactions are age-appropriate and when there may be cause for concern. A new digital platform is being developed to provide parents with evidence-based guidance and support.

New Course to Strengthen the Use of Health Data in Public Health Practice

Participants will learn how to use data sources as a basis for better prioritisation in public health and prevention efforts.

Researchers to Follow 10,000 Young People to Better Understand Harmful Nicotine Use

A new research project will follow young people in Denmark over a five-year period to investigate how nicotine products affect both health and society – and how nicotine use among children and adolescents can best be prevented.

Young people feel that alcohol has become slightly harder to access

A new report suggests that the initiatives in Denmark’s prevention plan may be starting to take effect. However, alcohol consumption among young people remains high, and many still experience harmful consequences.

Pilot project shows potential in new tool for psychological safety

Researchers have examined a new digital tool designed to create psychological safety in the workplace.

Parental education plays a key role in how long infants are breastfed

Parental education makes a marked difference: Infants of parents with longer education are, on average, exclusively breastfed for nearly two months longer than children of parents with shorter education. This is shown in a new report.

More than half of Danes are not physically active enough

Slightly more than half of all Danes aged 18 and above do not meet the WHO’s recommended levels of physical activity – this corresponds to around 2.5 million people.

More Danes struggle with sleep: One in six severely affected

The share of Danes struggling with sleep has steadily increased since 2010. This is shown by the National Health Profile.

Mental well-being in adolescence may be crucial for education and employment later in life

A large study of nearly 68,000 Danish young people shows how both good and poor mental well-being during adolescence can follow individuals far into adulthood. Researchers are surprised by how strongly well-being is linked to young people’s education and employment many years later.

US statements make Greenlanders worried and uneasy

The American president’s statements about taking over Greenland have created insecurity in the population and caused quality of life to decline markedly. At the same time, more people are experiencing signs of mental distress, a new study shows.

More and more Danes are eating unhealthily – and there are large regional and social differences

An increasing number of people eat too little fruit, vegetables and fish and too much saturated fat. Now one in five Danes eats unhealthily. At the same time, there are significant geographical and social disparities in unhealthy eating habits, according to new figures.

Childhood adversity is linked to cognitive ability

Young people who grow up with multiple and long-term family-related adversities score lower on intelligence tests. This is shown by a new register-based study of more than 360,000 young Danish men whose IQ was measured at the Danish military conscription assessment.

New research: These groups are particularly vulnerable in future crises

It has been six years since Denmark shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. New studies show which groups were at particular risk of suicidal thoughts and psychological distress during the pandemic – knowledge that, according to the researchers, can be used if society is again hit by a crisis.

The health of Danes in 2025: On many fronts, the development is heading in the wrong direction

Danes live longer, but at the same time the number of years lived in good health is declining. Mental well-being is declining, and the proportion with unhealthy diet has increased, and the same applies to the proportion with long-term illness. At the same time, social inequality in health is pronounced. This is documented by new results from The Danish National Health Survey 2025, which is published today.

Good advice is not enough for a good night’s sleep

Most Danes are familiar with the advice on good sleep, yet many still have unhelpful sleep habits, a new report shows. The researchers behind the report point out that sleep is also shaped by the conditions of everyday life – and that sleep should be considered as part of broader prevention efforts.

People with intellectual disabilities are screened markedly less often for colorectal cancer

A new register-based study shows that people with intellectual disabilities participate to a much lesser extent in the national colorectal cancer screening programme than other Danes.

Ethical values in dementia care reveal shared principles – but also differences across the EU

What ethical values guide the care of people with dementia across EU countries? A new international study has mapped the values underlying national dementia strategies in 17 European countries. The findings show both shared principles and substantial differences.

Children’s Screen Use Ties Parents in Emotional Knots

Screens, smartphones, games and social platforms take up a large part of most children’s leisure time as entertainment, social interaction and communication. But for many parents, children’s screen use is a persistent emotional burden, according to a new scientific study.

Back Pain and Musculoskeletal Disorders Cost Society DKK 58 Billion a Year

Pain in the back, neck, shoulders, and joints is not only a daily burden for many Danes – it also has major consequences for the economy. This is shown in a new analysis from the National Institute of Public Health, which estimates the total economic losses associated with musculoskeletal pain.

Most Greenlandic children are thriving and have strong relationships

The vast majority of children and young people in Greenland are doing well. They report a high quality of life, feel comfortable with their peers and teachers, and have close relationships, according to a new study of the health and wellbeing of Greenlandic schoolchildren. However, the study also identifies more concerning trends, including an increase in bullying and a decline in physical activity.

Decentralisation of services reduces geographical and social inequality in health

One of the aims of the upcoming health reform is to create a healthcare system that is closer to citizens and thereby address inequality in access to health services. Researchers have now examined whether the decentralisation of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation can make a difference.

Fewer ninth-grade students have tried cannabis

The share of ninth-grade students who have ever tried smoking cannabis has been halved over the past decades. In 1999, nearly one in four students had experience with cannabis. In 2024, this applies to only about one in eight.

What Should We Keep an Eye On in 2026? A Good and Long Life Sets the Direction

The National Institute of Public Health is now publishing A Good and Long Life – Public Health in Focus 2026, a new annual publication that brings together the health challenges which, in the institute’s assessment, require particular attention from professionals and decision-makers.

Young people with heavy substance use face a heightened risk of serious accidents and traumatic brain injuries

Danish teenagers who start drinking, smoking, using tobacco and nicotine products, and experimenting with drugs at an early age run a greater risk of ending up in hospital because of accidents, violence, and traumatic brain injuries. This is shown in a new study from the National Institute of Public Health.

Created a Fake TikTok Profile – and Saw a Flood of Illegal Tobacco and Nicotine Ads

Researchers created a 13-year-old fake profile and were shown videos featuring tobacco and nicotine products, even though such content violates both Danish regulations and TikTok’s own guidelines.

Psychological Partner Violence Can Continue Long After the Breakup

Psychological violence can persist even after the victim has left their partner and sought help at a crisis center. This is shown in new research from the National Institute of Public Health.

Art and culture can boost young people’s mental health and well-being

Initiatives involving visual arts, music, dance and theatre can have a positive impact on young people’s self-esteem and confidence. This is shown in a new mapping study, which also points to what is needed for art and culture to succeed as a tool for health promotion.

Young people dissatisfied with their bodies are more likely to drop out of secondary education

Young people who feel too fat or too thin are at significantly higher risk of not completing their upper secondary education. This is shown by a new study indicating that adolescents’ perception of their own body may be as important – or even more important – for school dropout as their actual weight.

Parents Struggle to Find Balance in Their Children’s Screen Use

Many parents spend energy every day discussing, negotiating, and trying to manage their children’s screen use – often with mixed feelings and many compromises, according to a new study.

When language fades: How literature and imagination can help us understand people living with dementia

A new study explores how we can understand and recreate the stories and experiences of people living with advanced dementia — people who can no longer express themselves in words.

First Health Profile for Pregnant Women Shows Clear Social Inequalities in Wellbeing and Health

A new study provides, for the first time, a comprehensive picture of the health, wellbeing and health behaviors of pregnant women in Denmark. The results show that most pregnant women avoid alcohol and cigarettes – but also that there are significant sociodemographic differences in health.

New digital platform to help parents detect children’s mental distress earlier

Help is on the way for parents whose child shows signs of mental distress. Researchers at the National Institute of Public Health are developing an online platform with research-based advice and guidance. The aim is to support early detection.

Young people who struggle mentally face far greater risks of serious outcomes in the years that follow

A large Danish study of nearly 68,000 young people shows that poor mental well-being during upper secondary and vocational school years is closely linked to a much higher risk of subsequent mental illness, self-harm, alcohol and drug misuse, violence, and suicide attempts.

Schools receive help to enforce the law on smoke- and nicotine-free school hours

How effectively are Danish schools implementing smoke- and nicotine-free school hours? That is the central question of a new research project. The project examines both how the law is being implemented at preparatory basic education (FGU) and vocational schools, and how schools can be better supported in enforcing it in the future.

Many children and young people with ill siblings are thriving – but more experience challenges in everyday life

A larger proportion of children and young people with ill siblings often feel sad, nervous, irritable, or in a bad mood compared to those without ill siblings.

Fewer Danes smoke and drink too much, but more are living with obesity

New study provides an overview of six key trends in Danes’ health behaviours over the past 35 years.

Course in Arts and Culture Provides Knowledge and Tools to Promote Health and Well-being

The National Institute of Public Health is once again offering the continuing education course “Arts and Culture for Health and Well-being”. The course provides insight into how health promotion can be approached in new ways.

Significantly More Women Show Signs of Eating Disorders

The proportion of women engaging in behaviors associated with a risk of developing an eating disorder has doubled since the year 2000, according to a new study from the National Institute of Public Health.

Assistive technologies can improve life with dementia – but also give rise to ethical issues

New study provides an overview of ethical issues related to assistive technologies for people with dementia

Substance use in adolescence is linked to mental illness in adulthood

Researchers have followed 68,000 teenagers for eight years to examine how different patterns of alcohol and drug use among young people are associated with mental illness, hospital admissions related to alcohol and drug use, as well as self-harm and suicide attempts later in life.

More Danes with Chronic Pain Are Turning to Alternative Treatments

The use of complementary and alternative medicine has increased among Danes living with chronic non-cancer pain over the past two decades, although there was a slight decline in 2021. This is the conclusion of a new study from the National Institute of Public Health in Denmark.

Significant differences in health risks and diseases across occupational groups

A new report from the National Institute of Public Health (Statens Institut for Folkesundhed) highlights how diseases and risk factors are distributed across six major occupational groups in Denmark.

Girls now surpass boys in substance use

Young girls in 9th grade are now more likely to use e-cigarettes and more frequently engage in heavy episodic drinking than their male peers. This is shown in a new survey on young people's substance use habits.

More People Will Live with Chronic Diseases in the Future

By 2040, more Danes are expected to live with chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lower back pain, and breast cancer compared to today. Conversely, fewer are expected to suffer from depression, alcohol-related diseases, and heart disease, according to a new analysis.

Despite Legal Ban, Teenagers Still Use Nicotine During School Hours

Since 2021, it has been illegal for students to use tobacco and nicotine products during school hours. Nevertheless, many children and young people continue to smoke or use nicotine while at school – and even more witness it happening around them, concludes data from the §RØG survey.

Dizziness on the Rise Among Schoolchildren in Denmark

Many adolescents have experienced dizziness—the sensation that the floor is swaying or that the surroundings are spinning. For a growing number of Danish schoolchildren, however, dizziness is not a fleeting experience. Instead, it is a recurrent condition experienced several times a week, or even daily.

The temporal structure of job centres affects both unemployed citizens and employees

The temporal structure which dominates job centres — with fixed timelines and demands for activity, progress, and efficiency — can be difficult for some long-term unemployed individuals to comply with. It also creates professional dilemmas for staff – concludes a new study.

One in three Danes may have an unhealthy diet by 2040

Too little fruit, vegetables and fish – and too much fat in everyday meals. More and more Danes have an unhealthy diet, and a new analysis suggests the trend is likely to continue.

Four out of five young people want to quit nicotine pouches

Social inequality in health starts early in life

Children of parents with low education face poorer health on a wide range of measures – even when it comes to basic prevention such as childhood vaccinations, a new report shows.

Most infants of parents with a psychiatric diagnosis develop like other children – but a small group stands out

The vast majority of infants whose parents have been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder develop like other children during their first year of life. They show no signs of delayed development or decreased well-being. This is one of the findings from a new report examining the health, development, and well-being of children born to parents who, within the past five years, have been diagnosed with at least one psychiatric diagnosis at a hospital

Stricter controls make it harder for young people to buy tobacco in stores – but social media takes over

The proportion of minors buying cigarettes or e-cigarettes in kiosks has halved since 2020. However, more young people are now purchasing tobacco and nicotine products through social media or from friends. This is shown by a new study from the National Institute of Public Health.

New recommendations for alcohol prevention in Greenland could break the vicious cycle

About half of the Greenlandic population has experienced alcohol problems in their childhood home—leading to an increased risk of violence and abuse. New recommendations for alcohol prevention aim to ensure that no children are harmed by alcohol in the future.

More young people are asked for ID when buying alcohol – and fewer find alcohol easy accessible

New figures show that more young people are being asked to show ID when attempting to buy alcohol. At the same time, fewer find it easy to get hold of beer and spirits, and according to a researcher, this suggests that the authorities’ tightened control measures are starting to have an effect. However, there is still room for improvement.

Children exposed to poverty face more health challenges

Shorter breastfeeding periods, poorer dietary and meal habits, and less physical activity. These are some of the challenges faced by children growing up in poverty, according to a new report based on data from more than 340,000 children.

Greenlandic children with disabilities experience lower well-being compared to their peers

New report investigates, for the first time, health and well-being among children with disabilities in Greenland.

Care staff receive support in handling ethical dilemmas in dementia care

Nursing home staff feel better equipped to handle ethical dilemmas in dementia care after participating in a specialized initiative, a new study shows.

How are you? The Health of the Danish population under investigation

More than 300,000 Danes are being asked about their health and well-being in a new, large-scale survey. The results will serve as a foundation for better prevention efforts and other initiatives where the need is greatest.

Municipalities face ethical dilemmas in health initiatives

Denmark’s municipalities often face difficult decisions when prioritizing between long-term prevention efforts targeting the general population and specific interventions for residents with chronic illnesses or acute health problems. This is the finding of a new study from the National Institute of Public Health.

Every day over 1,700 Danes are injured in accidents

Injuries and accidents are among the leading causes of morbidity and hospitalizations in Denmark. This is shown by data from the new Danish Injury Register.

New project aims to improve young people’s mental health in the Region of Southern Denmark

Young people in the Region of Southern Denmark will play a key role in a new project aimed at reducing mental health struggles such as loneliness, stress, and low self-esteem. The youth will identify both problems and solutions.

Young people wanted to share their views on body image

Do you respect your body? Do you think you are beautiful even if you don’t look like the people on social media? Researchers are looking for young people aged 15–25 to share their thoughts about their body image. Your answers will help strengthen research into positive body image.

Danish children and adolescents experience more social support than most of their European peers

Children and adolescents in Denmark receive more support from family, friends, and teachers than their peers in most other European countries. This is revealed in a large international schoolchildren survey involving 280,000 students from 44 countries.

Children attending Julemærkehjem often face social and health challenges

A new study shows that these challenges may influence the children's future development and life outcomes.

New study set to explore public health in Greenland

Qanormitaava ippugut? A total of 8,000 peoples are invited to participate in the next Greenland population health survey—the sixth national health survey in the country, this time with a special focus on protective factors and reaching more people than ever before.

Reports highlight focus on Child Life in Healthy Balance

Child Life in Healthy Balance is a community-based initiative designed to foster healthier everyday environments and improve children’s health and well-being. The National Institute of Public Health has now evaluated the implementation of this initiative and examined children’s well-being and weight before its launch.

Danish men needed for a research project on the manosphere

The National Institute of Public Health is looking for Danish men with experiences from the so-called manosphere - online environments where men discuss topics such as masculinity, gender roles, gender equality, and sex.

New study shows possible link between PFAS in blood and effects on the immune system

A new study from the National Institute of Public Health and the ENFORCE research project sheds light on a potential, though not definitive, association between PFAS exposure and the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination.

New project maps adolescents and young people’s use of nicotine products in the Nordic countries

The Danish National Institute of Public Health will examine the development in the use of e-cigarettes, snus, and nicotine pouches among adolescents and young adults in the Nordic and Baltic countries. The study aims to inspire future efforts to protect young people from nicotine addiction.

Professionals and citizens need to be involved in the development of national initiatives in Greenland

A new PhD dissertation from the Centre for Public Health in Greenland and the University of Greenland emphasizes how national initiatives, such as the parenting program MANU, only can succeed when local professionals and citizens are involved in both development and implementation. The study shows that many national initiatives fail because they are not based on local conditions and needs.

Danish Schoolchildren Continue to Engage in Physical Activity More Than Other European Schoolchildren

Children and young people in Denmark continue to engage in sports and physical activities in their free time as they grow older, and to a greater extent than in other European countries, according to an international schoolchildren survey with data from 44 countries.

More Than Every Other School Fails to Teach Life-Saving First Aid

More than half of Denmark's primary schools do not comply with the law requiring them to teach students first aid. Schools report a lack of skills and awareness of the law as the main barriers.

More Drowning Accidents – Especially Among Older Men

There has been an increase in the number of drowning accidents, according to a new report. The increase is particularly attributed to older men swimming at the beach or going on boat trips.

Research project aims to strengthen smoke-free school hours

Although smoke-free school hours have been mandated by law, many students at Danish preparatory basic education and vocational schools continue to use nicotine and tobacco products during school hours. Now, researchers from the National Institute of Public Health are starting a new study to investigate how to promote the uptake of the policy into routine practice.

Back Pain imposes High Costs on Society

Back pain comes at a high cost in terms of sick leave, lost productivity, disability pensions, and premature death. Women, in particular, are heavily affected by lower back pain.

Recommendations for Recruiting and Retaining Citizens in Alcohol Treatment

How can we get citizens into alcohol treatment earlier and how can we keep them in treatment? Researchers at the National Institute of Public Health have some suggestions and are now sharing their recommendations from an intervention study that has successfully managed to get citizens into alcohol treatment early and retain them.

Young People from Low-Income Families Have Twice the Risk of Dying Early

Social Inequality: A new study shows that the social and economic background of young people significantly impacts their risk of dying at a young age.

New Course Provides Knowledge and Tools on Art and Culture as Health Promotion

The National Institute of Public Health now offers a course that equips professionals to use art and culture to promote health and well-being.

Online Alcohol Treatment Proves Effective for a Special Group of Individuals

A new form of alcohol treatment, which takes place online, is successfully getting individuals into treatment earlier and retaining them. Moreover, it has succeeded in recruiting individuals who typically do not seek help through the public healthcare system.

Small children spend too much time in front of a screen compared to the recommendations

Preschool children aged 4 use screens much more than recommended by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and Børns Vilkår. This is revealed in the first national study of screen use among 4-year-olds.

Denmark is among the countries in Europe where the fewest children experience bullying in school

Compared to children in 43 other European countries and Canada, fewer Danish children are bullied in school. However, Danish children experience bullying more often on social media, according to a new large international study.

Minors receive alcohol from their parents before they are old enough to buy it themselves.

A new report reveals that more than half of all 15-year-olds received alcohol from their parents the last time they drank.