In 1997-98, the second national Swedish dietary survey was carried out. 1 200 persons aged 18-74 years, corresponding to 60% of the total sample, filled in a precoded 7-d record book and a questionnaire on diet and life-style. The result from the questionnaire show that ca. 97% eat a mixed diet, while 1.5% eat a semi-lactovegetarian or a lacto-vegetarian diet. No changes in diet types seem to have occurred since the previous study in 1989.
Almost half of the participants eat dietary supplements (mainly vitamins and minerals) "regularly" or "occasionally". The use of vegetable oils or fluid margarines in cooking at home has increased during the 90s and most of the participants (76%) use iodised salt or sodium-reduced mineral salt (13%) for cooking at home.
Discretional salting at the table does not seem to be a common habit, but ca 10% state that they regularly make use of salt in this way. Ca. 80% consider it "important" or "fairly important" that food is healthy. Knowledge of the meaning of the "key-hole labelling" (used in Sweden to indicate low-fat or high fibre foods) is good regarding the low-fat part, but less so for its high fibre part. More than half of the participants state that they "often" or "sometimes" buy foods with the label. Women are more health conscious and more prone to use supplements than men.
Compared with the study in 1989, the average BMI has increased, especially among young women, but the proportion of smokers has decreased. Ca. 20% state that they "seldom" or "hardly ever" exercise during leisuretime, while 70% practise light to moderate exercise at least once a week. Changes since 1989 in leisuretime exercise and physical labour during work seem to be fairly small.