Abstract
BackgroundFruit juice and soft drink consumption have been shown to be related to obesity. However, this relationship has not been explored in Eastern Europe. The present study aimed to assess the cross‐sectional and longitudinal relationships between fruit juice, soft drink consumption and body mass index (BMI) in Eastern European cohorts.MethodsData from the Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial factors in Eastern Europe population‐based prospective cohort study, based in Russia, Poland and the Czech Republic, were used. Intakes of sugar‐sweetened beverage (SSB), artificially‐sweetened beverage (ASB) and fruit juice were estimated from a food frequency questionnaire. Participant BMI values were assessed at baseline (n = 26 634) and after a 3‐year follow‐up (data available only for Russia, n = 5205).ResultsSoft drink consumption was generally low, particularly in Russia. Compared to never drinkers of SSB, participants who drank SSB every day had a significantly higher BMI in the Czech [β‐coefficient = 0.28; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.02–0.54], Russian (β‐coefficient = 1.38; 95% CI = 0.62–2.15) and Polish (β‐coefficient = 0.83; 95% CI = 0.29–1.37) cohorts. Occasional or daily ASB consumption was also positively associated with BMI in all three cohorts. Results for daily fruit juice intake were inconsistent, with a positive association amongst Russians (β‐coefficient = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.28–1.21) but a negative trend in the Czech Republic (β‐coefficient = −0.42; 95% CI = −0.86 to 0.02). Russians participants who drank SSB or ASB had an increased BMI after follow‐up.ConclusionsOur findings support previous studies suggesting that soft drink consumption (including SSBs and ASBs) is positively related to BMI, whereas our results for fruit juice were less consistent. Policies regarding these beverages should be considered in Eastern Europe to lower the risk of obesity.
Highlights
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and morbidity rates in Eastern European countries (EECs) are considerably higher than in the West [1]
Using data from the Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial Factors in Eastern Europe (HAPIEE) prospective cohort study, we examined the cross-sectional relationship between fruit juice/soft drink consumption and obesity in Russian, Czech and Polish cohorts, and we explored whether these drinks affect body mass index (BMI) change over time in the Russian cohort where follow-up data were available
In the bivariate analysis (Table 2), almost all of the covariates were associated with fruit juice, sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) and artificially-sweetened beverage (ASB) consumption in the pooled sample
Summary
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and morbidity rates in Eastern European countries (EECs) are considerably higher than in the West [1] This health gap emerged in the 1970s, became more pronounced after the political reconstruction in the early 1990s and, despite some reduction in recent years, it still exists today [2]. Conclusions: Our findings support previous studies suggesting that soft drink consumption (including SSBs and ASBs) is positively related to BMI, whereas our results for fruit juice were less consistent. Policies regarding these beverages should be considered in Eastern Europe to lower the risk of obesity
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