ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: according to the available evidence, consumption of milk and other dairy products among Iranians is far less than recommendations. The share of different milks [i.e., traditionally vs. industrially processed] and its associated variables are, however, neither consistent nor fully known in different Provinces
Materials and Methods: this cross-sectional study was conducted to determine household milk consumption and its association with selected socio-demographic factors in West Azerbaijan Province, North-west Iran. A total of 650 households were selected from urban and rural areas in three major Azeri and Kurdish districts [i.e. Urmia, Khoy and Mahabad] using a multi-stage cluster sampling method. Data were collected using socioeconomic and milk frequency questionnaires
Results: the findings indicated that traditionally-processed milk [bulk] was the most common milk consumed at household level [62.5%]. Mean of bulk milk consumption in urban and rural areas was 479+/-23 and 730+/-64 ml/wk per capita, respectively. It was also shown that establishment of the new food subsidization policy has decreased the mean of household milk consumption by approximately 3 l/wk in urban areas. Factor analysis detected a significant decrease in the higher tertiles of family size/ethnicity score consumption of both bulk and pasteurized milk, which resulted in decreased consumption of total milk
Conclusions: designing and implementation of alternative approaches, such as targeted milk subsidies for poor households or vulnerable age-groups should be considered
ABSTRACT
Treatment of childhood obesity is difficult, and successful management may differ in various areas with different cultural backgrounds. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of lifestyle modification family-based intervention in young Iranian children. This field trial study was conducted in 2011 among 156 obese children in Tehran, Iran. They were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. At baseline, anthropometric measurements and biochemical analysis were performed. The second and third phases consisted of training sessions for parents of the intervention group. At the fourth phase, there was no training program. In all four phases, questionnaires on demographic characteristics, lifestyle and food frequency were completed by interviewing with mothers, and biochemical analysis was repeated at the end of the study. During the second and third phases of the study, weight and height increased significantly in both groups, although weight increased more slowly, and waist and hip circumferences was decreased in the intervention group. Serum triglycerides and cholesterol decreased significantly in the intervention group [P < 0.05]. Analysis of food group consumption showed that in the intervention group, not only consumption of milk, dairy and nuts group increased significantly but also the corresponding figure decreased for bread and cereals, sugar and confectionery ingredients; moreover, the family's oil and fat consumption decreased significantly [P < 0.05]. Watching TV and playing on the computer decreased significantly in the intervention group; however, walking time increased significantly in both groups [P < 0.05]. The family-based lifestyle program had limited but desirable effects on anthropometric and metabolic outcomes of the obese children. We suggest that a longer period of intervention may have more favorable results