ABSTRACT
An association between socioeconomic status [SES] and poor health has been recognized. Inequalities in nutrition have been associated with inequalities in health. This study aimed to identify the social variability in the food and nutrient intake of Iranian households. This study was conducted in the framework of the Comprehensive Study on Household Food Consumption Patterns and Nutritional Status of I.R. Iran during 2001-2003. Households were selected by cluster systematic sampling method in urban and rural areas. SES was assessed through in-depth interviews. Assessment of food and nutrient intake was done using three consecutive 24-hour diet recalls completed by trained nutritionists. Some of the socio-economic variables were extracted by factor analysis as indicators of SES. Among the 7158 studied households, 2496 [34.9%] were rural and 4662 [65.1%] were urban dwellers. Consumption of the food groups, including bread and cereals, vegetables, fruits, meats, eggs, milk and dairy products, sugar and sweets, was significantly different by the level of education, occupation [P<0.001] and living conditions [P<0.05]. These factors explained 70% of variance in SES. In higher quintile of SES, consumption of bread and cereals, as well as sugar and sweets significantly decreased and meats, vegetables and fruits was increased. Intake of protein, calcium, vitamin C, riboflavin and retinol was higher in the third quintile of SES as compared to the first quintile [P<0.05]. Based on our findings, an unhealthier dietary intake may exist among the households belonging to lower socio-economic level in Iran. This calls for appropriate policy making and intervention[s]
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to identify the dietary patterns among workers of Oil Terminals Company and to assess their association with socio-demographic and lifestyle factors. The sample size [392] was estimated by considering minimum correlation [r=0.2] between variables. This cross-sectional study was conducted in a representative sample of workers selected by a stratified random-sampling method [all offices of the company]. The head of company provided a list of workers, and the proportion of each center was specified via ni=ki/N × n [ni=number of participants from each center, ki=number of each center workers, N=number company workers, n= sample size [392]].Dietary pattern was identified by valid food frequency questionnaire containing 168 food items with specific serving size consumed by Iranians. Major dietary patterns analyzed by factor analysis. General characteristics across tertiles were compared by ANOVA and chi-square tests were used where appropriate. In addition, we used multivariate logestic regression tests to assess the relationship between demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle variables and the adherence to the dietary patterns. Two major dietary patterns were extracted: "Healthy pattern" characterized by high consumption of fruits, fish, yellow vegetables, potato, garlic, whole cereals, yogurt drink, and salt. The second one named "unhealthy pattern" characterized by high consumption of soft drinks, sugar, mayonnaise, sweets, eggs, butter, and processed meat, high- fat dairy products, organ meat, French fries, refined cereals, snacks and artificial juice. Work hours were positively correlated [b=0.14; p<0.01] and being single [b=-0.4, p<0.05] and full time work in comparison with part-time work [b=-0.5, p<0.01] was negatively correlated with healthy dietary pattern, whereas age [b=-0.3, p<0.05], dieting [b=-0.4, p<0.01] and history of hyperlipidemia had negative correlation [b=-0.41, p<0.01] with unhealthy dietary pattern. Our findings show the association between socio-demographic, lifestyle factors and dietary patterns of the workers
ABSTRACT
Body image is an important concern in overweight women; thus, this study was carried out to compare the effect of diet therapy and narrative therapy on improvement of body image. This was an interventional study. Among the women who were referred to the clinic of nutrition and diet therapy, 30 overweight women were selected through randomized sampling and were randomly divided to two interventions and one control group. Group 1 only received diet therapy [for 5 weeks], group 2 received narrative therapy in addition to diet therapy and the control group received no intervention. Narrative therapy was a group therapy that consisted of 12 sessions, each lasting 50 minutes; the sessions were held twice a week. Weight of subjects was measured with light cloths by a Seca balance scale to the nearest 0.5 kg and their height was measured by stadio-meter to 0.5 cm. Body Mass Index was calculated by dividing weight [in kg] to squared height [in m[2]]. Data of Body Image were gathered through Multidimensional Body-Self Relation Questionnaire. Data were analyzed by covariance analysis, Tukey and paired t test using SPSS 16 software. At the beginning of the study, the mean score of body image in the control group was 135.20 and it was 134.60 after the intervention. In group 1, at the beginning of the study the mean score was 148.1 and after the intervention was 147.50. In group 2, at the beginning of the study the mean score was 150.80 and after the intervention the result was 163.90. Data analysis showed that at the end of the study diet therapy had no significant effect on improvement of body image [P>0.05]. But narrative therapy was more effective than diet therapy in the improvement of body image in overweight women [P<0.001]. Narrative therapy can better improve body image; thus, this method is more suitable and has greater results in weight loss