The British journal of nutritionMay 12, 2012

Following the Baltic Sea diet in Nordic countries is linked to less belly fat

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Updated Mar 28, 2026

Abstract

Men in the highest quintile of the Baltic Sea Diet Score (BSDS) had an odds ratio of 0.48 for normal waist circumference compared to those in the lowest quintile.

The study included 4720 Finnish participants aged 25-74 years.
The Baltic Sea Diet Pyramid was used to develop the BSDS, focusing on Nordic dietary practices.
A significant association was observed between higher BSDS and lower risk of abdominal obesity in men.
Younger men showed a stronger association with normal waist circumference compared to older men.
No significant association was found between the BSDS and body mass index (BMI).
Nordic cereals and moderate alcohol consumption were identified as key components related to waist circumference.

Simplified

Due to differences in food cultures, dietary quality measures, such as the Mediterranean Diet Score, may not be easily adopted by other countries. Recently, the Baltic Sea Diet Pyramid was developed to illustrate healthy choices for the diet consumed in the Nordic countries. We assessed whether the Baltic Sea Diet Score (BSDS) based on the Pyramid is associated with a decreased risk of obesity and abdominal obesity. The population-based cross-sectional study included 4720 Finns (25-74 years) from the National FINRISK 2007 study. Diet was assessed using a validated FFQ. The score included Nordic fruits and berries, vegetables, cereals, ratio of PUFA:SFA and trans-fatty acids, low-fat milk, fish, red and processed meat, total fat (percentage of energy), and alcohol. Height, weight and waist circumference (WC) were measured and BMI values were calculated. In a multivariable model, men in the highest v. lowest BSDS quintile were more likely to have normal WC (OR 0·48, 95 % CI 0·29, 0·80). In women, this association was similar but not significant (OR 0·65, 95 % CI 0·39, 1·09). The association appeared to be stronger in younger age groups (men: OR 0·23, 95 % CI 0·08, 0·62; women: OR 0·17, 95 % CI 0·05, 0·58) compared with older age groups. Nordic cereals and alcohol were found to be the most important BSDS components related to WC. No association was observed between the BSDS and BMI. The present study suggests that combination of Nordic foods, especially cereals and moderate alcohol consumption, is likely to be inversely associated with abdominal obesity.

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Following the Baltic Sea diet in Nordic countries is linked to less belly fat

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