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Background: Fruit 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. Methods: Data 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). Results: Soft 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. 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although fruits and vegetables are considered a pillar of healthy eating, previous evidence suggests that their consumption in Eastern European countries is low, and their association with health outcomes has rarely been researched in this region. Aim: To examine the effect of fruit and vegetable intake on self-rated health (SRH) in the Czech arm of the Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial factors in Eastern Europe prospective cohort study. Methods: Dietary data on fruit and vegetable intake was measured at baseline using food frequency questionnaires, and SRH from the second wave was chosen as the main outcome. The relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and SRH was analysed using multivariable ordinal regression. Results: A total of 4255 persons aged 45-69, in good and very good SRH at baseline were included in the longitudinal analysis, with a median follow-up time of 3.7 years. In the second wave, 218 (5.1%) individuals reported poor or very poor SRH. In the fully adjusted model, individuals in the lowest fruit and vegetable intake quartile had higher odds of poor SRH compared to those in the highest quartile (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.01-1.52). When examined separately, the results were similar: for vegetables (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.03-1.51) and fruit (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 0.97-1.44). Conclusion: The observed longitudinal association suggests that low fruit and vegetable intake is associated with poor SRH in the Czech Republic. Considering almost half of our sample reported less than the daily recommended intake of 400 grams of fruits and vegetables, higher consumption should be supported.

Purpose: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer mortality rates in Eastern Europe are among the highest in the world. Although diet is an important risk factor, traditional eating habits in this region have not yet been explored. This analysis assessed the relationship between traditional dietary pattern and mortality from all-causes, CVD and cancer in Eastern European cohorts., Methods: Data from the Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial factors in Eastern Europe prospective cohort were used, including participants from Russia, Poland and the Czech Republic. Based on food frequency questionnaire data, we constructed an Eastern European diet score (EEDS) from nine food groups which can be considered as traditional in this region. The relationship between categorical (low, moderate, high) and continuous (range 0-18) EEDS and mortality was estimated with Cox-regression., Results: From 18,852 eligible participants, 2234 died during follow-up. In multivariable adjusted models, participants with high adherence to the traditional Eastern European diet had significantly higher risk of all-cause (HR 1.23; 95% CI 1.08-1.42) and CVD (1.34; 1.08-1.66) deaths compared to those with low adherence. The association with cancer mortality was only significant in Poland (high vs. low EEDS: 1.41; 1.00-1.98). From the specific EEDS components, high consumption of lard was significantly positively related to all three mortality outcomes, while preserved fruit and vegetable consumption showed consistent inverse associations., Conclusion: Our results suggest that traditional eating habits may contribute to the poor health status, particularly the high CVD mortality rates, of populations in Eastern Europe. Adequate public health nutritional interventions in this region are essential.