ABSTRACT
Food labeling is found to be a very important public health tool aimed at providing consumers with information which may influence their purchasing decisions. This study has aimed to assess the consumers' behaviors about the important information on the labels and their reasons for use or non-use. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted as point of purchase survey among 2123 shoppers in chain stores in Teharn, Iran, during 2008-2009. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire which contained 4 sections measuring respondents' background, knowledge, perception, and behaviors about information on food labels. Results showed that 82.8 % of consumers look at food label information when purchasing food products. Younger adults [aged 20-40 years], female, married, employees and holders of a diploma and higher, individuals with higher level of knowledge, and those in the group categories of monthly income higher 6 million rials were significantly more likely to use food labels. Most of the respondents [29.3%] found small print on food labels to be the main reason for not reading food labels information, followed by no interest [26.3%], do not believe [12.6%], do not understand [7.1%]. Our study suggests that increasing nutrition knowledge and understandable and legible food labeling can increase the likelihood of food label usage
ABSTRACT
Obesity is rising rapidly in Iran. Nutrition is an important issue of obesity; Fruits and vegetables are among the best food sources of antioxidant vitamins, soluble fibers, phytochemicals, and other nutrient constituents. Further, some of these foods have been shown to be protective related to reduction of chronic disease risk. In this study, consumption of fruits and vegetables and body mass index [BMI] among College Students Living in dormitory at Shahid Beheshti University of medical sciences were evaluated. In this descriptive analytic survey, 658 college students whose have being lived in dormitory at Shahid Beheshti University of medical sciences were selected by clustering sampling method. Data collected using a food frequency questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS[16] software. Mean age of participants was 21.82 for females and 22.76 years for males. Frequency of fruits consumption was 2.6+/- 0.9 per day in female and 2.3+/-0.7 in male, while frequency of vegetables consumption was 3.2+/-1.00 in female and 2.9+/- 0.9 per day in male students. In general, consumption of fruits [p=0.003] and vegetables [p<0.001] were significantly more in female than males students. BMI in students was normal. Results indicated that students hadn't optimal practice towards fruits and vegetables consumption. Thus, it is essential that authorities pay more attention to this specific problem in training the students, in order to maintain the optimal nutritional status
ABSTRACT
Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common chronic diseases in nearly all countries. It is difficult to treat and expensive to manage. The development of type 2 diabetes is strongly related to lifestyle factors, thus it might be a preventable disease. Observational studies and intervention trials have shown that physical activity, weight loss and dietary intake including whole grain, dietary fiber and dietary fat are important in delaying and preventing type 2 diabetes. The aim of this review is to gather current information from epidemiologic and clinical trial studies on dietary and lifestyle practices for reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. The review focuses on the macro and micronutrients, food items and dietary patterns which have been identified as significant in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes. Also, the role of physical activity and weight loss are presented
ABSTRACT
Adequate intake of folate has an important role in the prevention of nutritional anemia and other complications in childbearing age women. This study was undertaken to determine dietary folate intake and concentration of folate in serum and red blood cell [RBC] in female students of a medical university in Tehran, the capital of Iran. In this cross sectional study, 346 female students were randomly selected from students' lists of eight schools at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran. Those who were interested and eligible participated in this study. For each student, questionnaires about general characteristics were completed. Dietary folate intake was assessed by 3 days food recall questionnaire. These data were analyzed by Food Processor [FP]. Folate in serum and RBC were determined by Radio Immunoassay [RIA]. The results showed that mean age and body mass index in these students were 21.4+/-4.2 yrs and 22.2+/-3.2 kg/m2,respectively. Mean of 3 days folate intake was 239.4+/-101.8 micro g/d. The majority of subjects [93%] did not meet the reference dietary intake for folate. Mean serum folate levels in whole population was 7.8+/-3.6 ng/ml and RBC folate was 249.6+/-124.9 ng/ml. No correlation was found between folate concentrations in serum and RBC with folate intake from food. The result of this study showed that folate intake of students is very low. Therefore, appropriate intervention is necessary for adequate intake of folate
ABSTRACT
Rapid changes in lifestyle and industrialization of communities have an important effect on food intake pattern of society. Regarding the lack of enough data about dietary habits and nutrient intake of adolescents in our society, this study was performed in a group of adolescent girls in Lahijan, North of Iran. In this cross-sectional study, 400 high school girls aged 14-17 years selected by random stratified sampling. Nutritional data were collected by 24-hour dietary recall, food habits and food frequency questionnaires for all samples. The mean energy intake was 2338+/-611 kcal/d. The contributions of carbohydrate, protein and fat to the total energy intake were 59.3, 11.9 and 28.8%, respectively. The daily intake of energy obtained from breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks were 16.3, 23.5, 25.9 and 34.3%, respectively. The mean intakes of vitamin A, vitamin D, calcium, phosphorous and zinc were below the Recommended Daily Allowances. The consumption of fresh vegetables and fruit was generally low. Twelve percent in total did not drink milk at all. Almost all the subjects had a prepared meal, most often in the evening, at least four times a week. Regarding the undesirable food pattern and proportions of nutrient intakes, it is necessary to development means of motivating adolescents to eat nutritionally rich foods, good for health and well-being
ABSTRACT
Objective [s]: This study was carried out to determine the knowledge and practice of consumers in food labels and in Tehran, 2008-2009
Methods: In this descriptive and cross-sectional study, 2123 individuals were selected by random cluster sampling from the chain stores in Tehran. Data on demographics and knowledge and practice of consumers were collected by a questionnaire. The SPSS program and Chi2 test were used for data analysis
Results: In this study, the age range was 16-65 years and majority of them were 40-60 years. About 60% of the subjects were women. 80% of them were married and had at least diploma degree. A high percentage of consumers [44.2%] were in the lowest classification score of knowledge about the information printed on food packages. 82.8% of the subjects claimed they read food labels when shopping. The study of the consumers' views about the information printed on the food labels showed the satisfaction of about half of them, regarding the place and readability of the production and expiry date on food packages. However, more than half of subjects mentioned that nutrition information on food packages were non-readable and unintelligible, and were not in an appropriate position on the food packages. The findings revealed the effect of knowledge on the use of food labels. So those in the highest classification score of knowledge about food labels paid more attention to the food labels as compared with those in the lowest classification score of knowledge
Conclusion: This study showed that knowledge of people with information on food labels is very low and nutritional knowledge has a strong effect on nutritional practice. The results suggest that standardized food label designs, long term nutrition education, and training interpretation of information listed on food labels and the importance of using it in order to select the correct food to reduce the nutritional diseases is necessary