Cross Sectional Study Regarding the Association Between Sweetened Beverages Intake, Fast-food Products, Body Mass Index, Fasting Blood Glucose and Blood Pressure in the Young Adults from North-western Romania

Abstract

The study investigated the association between the frequency of sweetened beverages intake and body mass index, diet choices, hypertension, and glycaemia in 1158 individuals from north western Romania, aged between 20 and 39 years. We found a high prevalence (87.48%) of soda consumption. There was a linear correlation between the number of sweetened beverages servings/week and unhealthy lifestyle expressed as frequency of fast-food consumption. A significant statistical association was found between soda consumption and prevalence of high blood pressure and impaired fasting glycaemia. Individuals who did not consumed sweetened beverages, had a prevalence of impaired fasting glucose and hypertension of 6% and respectively 13%; those who consumed more than 8 servings/week had a prevalence of impaired fasting glucose and hypertension of 19%. Inappropriate nutrition (lack of fruits and vegetables in food, consumption of fats and processed sugars or added sugars beverages) have increased the incidence of chronic diseases. We consider that public health policies regarding soda consumption are required.