Nutrition and food security policy in the Islamic Republic of Iran: situation analysis and roadmap towards 2021

Background: All government policies and programmes for food and nutrition security should include providing healthy food, as well as providing economic and social availability for all people. Aim: This study aimed to analyse the current situation of Iranian food and nutrition security and establish a road map towards 2021. Methods: The applied methods were situation analysis and a mixed qualitative–quantitative method. The conceptual method used for developing this national document encompassed three areas: sustainable food supply, food safety and nutrition. Results: The outcomes of the Iranian food and nutrition security system in the past three decades include development of management infrastructure and improvement in food and nutrition security status. However, analysis of current programmes showed that there were some overlapping, intertwining and parallel works in the responsibilities of related organizations in the field of supervision of food safety [from production to supply]. The national document produced as the outcome of this paper was communicated by the Iranian Ministry of Health in 2012 and has been running for 2 years. Selected ministries are responsible for implementation of 20 national programmes by the end of the 5th Economic, Social and Cultural Development Programme [2016–2011]. The consensus of stakeholders by the end of the 6th Development Programme [2021] is to put all of the provinces in a safe or very safe situation in terms of food and nutrition security. Conclusion: The most important challenge in establishing national documents is to make them operational. This aim was achieved by an intersectoral nutrition and food security working group, which produced a general memorandum of understanding with the main organizations, the media, universities and private sector

[Food supplements: opportunity or threat]

Diet and nutrition play an important role in the maintenance of health and prevention of diseases. The body requires different types of micro and macronutrients in order to function optimally and they must be supplied through diet, "a balanced and varied diet is one that contains all the different necessary micronutrients". Dietary supplements should be considered as an important source of nutrients for those who are unable to maintain an adequate or safe oral intake. Although many of these supplements can be beneficial, they are also of concern because of potential adverse effects and interactions with other medications and dietary supplements. Food supplements are defined as concentrated sources of nutrients [vitamins and minerals] or other substances with a physiological or nutritional effect, like herbs, amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, enzymes and probiotics which are available as single or combined and marketed in dose forms such as tablets, capsules, powders and liquids, soft gels and like this designed to be taken to supplement the diet. Multivitamin-multimineral has no standard or defined meaning. These differences can affect estimates of both prevalence and intakes and make it difficult to compare trends over time. The aim of this paper was to emphasis on the importance of receiving adequate nutrients, along with mentioning the adverse effects of excessive consumption of them

The Association Between Parental Behavior Patterns and the Dietary Intake of Preschool Children in Tehran Kindergartens

This study was designed to investigate the association between parental behavior and the dietary intake of Tehranian preschool children aged 2-6 years. In a cross-sectional study conducted on 310 children aged 2-6 years from the kindergartens of 22 districts of Tehran, a qualitative validated 85-item food frequency questionnaire was completed by interviewing with their parents. Also the effect of parental behavior on the children's dietary intake was assessed using a validated comprehensive feeding practices questionnaire [CFPQ]. 47 and 53% of children were girls and boys, respectively. Among the parental behavior patterns, encouraging children to eat healthy foods, using food rewards, teaching and talking with children about the value of foods, encouraging the children to participate in food purchasing and preparation, making available the healthy foods, parental controlling behavior, child's control, restricted behaviors because of having weight loss diet, and role modeling were significantly associated with the dietary intake of food groups [P<0.05]. Any effort to promote children's dietary intake needs considering the role of parents in the development of feeding patterns, and interest in children to consume healthy foods

Schools' cafeteria status: does it affect snack patterns? a qualitative study

The aim of this study was to evaluate patterns of students' snacks habits regarding to their schools' cafeteria status in Tehran by focus group discussion [FGD] technique. Participants were 240 students [12-15. years old], selected from 12 middle-schools in Tehran. The field study consisted of 24 FGDs sessions; involving 8-10 participants. Collected data were coded, categorized and analyzed using constant comparative method. Over half of the students believed that snack consumption is necessary. Although, majority of students believed that their schools' cafeterias are not acceptable, they noted them as one of the necessary parts of school. Nearly half of the children were complaining of unvaried and expensive food items. The most purchased items were: Cookies, sandwiches with mayonnaise and ketchup, soft drinks and chocolate milk. Most of the students were interested in having roles in their cafeterias. Schools' cafeteria are significant sources of supplying adolescents' snacks, so developing hygienic stores containing healthy and nutritious food items is a key element to affect their snack selection positively. Reaching this goal requires a multi disciplinary approach through participation of students, school staff, parents, and the support of community and media

[ association of overweight and obesity with menarche age and nutritional status in girls aged 11-15 in Mashhad]

The relationship between obesity and puberty is still controversial. This study examined this issue in girls in pubertal age in Mashhad A total of 1300 healthy girls aged 11-15, in Mashhad public guidance schools were recruited from all 7 urban educational regions using double-stages cluster sampling method. Demographic and anthropometric data were collected using standard methods. Data of dietary habits and intakes were collected using a valid questionnaire [230 subjects] and a 24-h recall [216 subjects] respectively. Age of menarche was also recorded for pubertal girls. BMI between 85-95 percentiles was defined as overweight and BMI >/= 95 percentile as obesity [based on BMI percentiles of WHO references for age and sex].Survival Analysis method was used. Prevalence of overweight and obesity were 11.5% and 10.3% respectively.63% of subjects had experienced menarche with mean menarche age of 13 +/- 0.06 yrs. There was shown a significant correlation of BMI with menarche occurrence and menarche age [r=0.33, r=-0.2 respectively, P< 0.001].Menarche age was 13.1 +/- 0.07 yrs in normal group and 12.2 +/- 0.07 yrs in overweight and obese subjects [P< 0.001].Overweight and obese girls had consumed less frequently breakfast and more snacks than normal ones. Their frequency of intake for spaghetti, ice cream, sweets, nuts, chips and sweetened beverages was also significantly higher than that of normal girls. In girls with higher BMI menarche are more likely occurred in lower ages and their dietary patterns are different compared to those with normal BMI