title: Changing patterns of fruit and vegetable intake in countries of the former Soviet Union.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess how the frequency of low fruit and vegetable consumption has changed in countries of the former Soviet Union (FSU) between 2001 and 2010 and to identify factors associated with low consumption.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional surveys. A standard questionnaire was administered at both time points to examine fruit and vegetable consumption frequency. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between demographic, socio-economic and health behavioural variables and low fruit and vegetable consumption in 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nationally representative population samples from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adults aged 18 years and older.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 2001 and 2010 notable changes occurred in fruit and vegetable consumption in many countries resulting in a slight overall deterioration in diet. By 2010 in six countries about 40% of the population was eating fruit once weekly or less often, while for vegetables the corresponding figure was in excess of 20% in every country except Azerbaijan. A worse socio-economic situation, negative health behaviours (smoking and alcohol consumption) and rural residence were all associated with low levels of fruit and vegetable consumption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  International dietary guidelines emphasise the importance of fruit and vegetable consumption. The scale of inadequate consumption of these food groups among much of the population in many FSU countries and its link to socio-economic disadvantage are deeply worrying. This highlights the urgent need for a greater focus to be placed on population nutrition policies to avoid nutrition-related diseases in the FSU countries.
authors.affiliation: 1 European Centre on Health of Societies in Transition, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SH, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah Krull
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stickley
authors.forename: Bayard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rotman
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McKee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014586:USSR; D014675:Vegetables; D055815:Young Adult