The Analysis of Changes in Food Preferences and Nutrition-Related Diseases (Conditions) in the Population of the Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction: Many countries develop approaches to understanding nutritional balance in order to estimate adequate intakes for each type of food and nutrient required to preserve health of individuals and the population as a whole. The objective of the study was to analyze changes in food preferences and diet-related diseases (conditions) in the population of the Russian Federation over a five-year period. Methods: A retrospective comparative analysis of data of questionnaire-based surveys of the population of the Russian Federation conducted in 2013 and 5 years later in 2018 by the Federal State Statistics Service in accordance with Decree No. 946 of the Russian Government of November 27, 2010 was conducted. Results: Both positive and negative changes were observed in the diet and health status of Russian people over the study period. The positive ones included an increase in the number of people consuming healthy foods on a daily basis and rejecting products with low biological value, especially in big cities, and a decrease in the number of people with diabetes or hyperglycemia. The observed negative changes included an increase in the proportion of people with excessive dietary fat intake, insufficient consumption of complex carbohydrates, and nutrition-related high blood cholesterol levels.