Arezoo Rezazadeh

Association of major dietary patterns with socioeconomic and lifestyle factors of adult women living in Tehran, Iran.

OBJECTIVES To detect major dietary patterns and their relation with demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors in adult women living in Tehran, Iran. METHODS In a cross-sectional study, 460 women 20-50 y of age were selected by a stratified random-sampling method. Factor analysis was conducted to ascertain the major dietary patterns, and analysis of covariance was fitted to assess the relation between demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle variables and adherence to major dietary patterns. RESULTS Two major dietary patterns were extracted: healthy and unhealthy. After adjustment for confounders, age (b=0.31, P<0.01), university degree (b=0.85, P<0.01), housing size >20 m(2)/head (b=0.30, P<0.01), total family income US >

Calcium Intake, Major Dietary Sources and Bone Health Indicators in Iranian Primary School Children

500/mo (b=0.25, P<0.05), physical activity (b=0.01, P<0.05), and history of hypertension (b=0.36, P<0.05) were positively associated and duration of residence in Tehran (b=-0.01, P<0.05) was negatively associated with a healthy dietary pattern. Conversely, ethnicity (Turk versus Fars; b=0.30, P<0.01) and smoking (b=0.64, P<0.01) were positively associated and age (b=-0.33, P<0.01) was negatively associated with an unhealthy dietary pattern. CONCLUSION Our findings support the association between demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle factors and dietary patterns of the studied women. Therefore, it is suggested these factors should be considered in future studies on the association between dietary patterns and disease.

Food insecurity, socio-economic factors and weight status in two Iranian ethnic groups

Background: Adequate calcium intake may have a crucial role with regards to prevention of many chronic diseases, including hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, different types of cancer, obesity and osteoporosis. In children, sufficient calcium intake is especially important to support the accelerated growth spurt during the preteen and teenage years and to increase bone mineral mass to lay the foundation for older age. Objectives: This study aimed to assess daily calcium intake in school-age children to ensure whether they fulfill the FGP dairy serving recommendations, the recommended levels of daily calcium intake and to assess the relationship between dietary calcium intake and major bone health indicators. Patients and Methods: A total of 501 Iranian school-age children were randomly selected. Calcium intake was assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Bone health indicators were also assessed. Results: Dairy products contributed to 69.3% of the total calcium intake of the children. Daily adequate intake of calcium was achieved by 17.8% of children. Only 29.8% met the Food guide pyramid recommendations for dairy intake. Dietary calcium intake was not significantly correlated with serum calcium and other selected biochemical indicators of bone health. Conclusions: The need for planning appropriate nutrition strategies for overcoming inadequate calcium intake in school age children in the city of Tehran is inevitable.

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

ABSTRACT Objective. To study the association of weight status with food insecurity (FI) and socio-economic status (SES) in Azeri and Kurd ethnic groups living in Urmia city, North-Western Iran. Design. In this cross-sectional study, 723 participants (427 women and 296 men) aged 20–64 years old, from two ethnic groups (445 Azeri and 278 Kurd), were selected through a combination of cluster, random and systematic sampling methods. Demographic and socio-economic characteristics were assessed by a valid questionnaire, and household food security status was analyzed using an adapted household food insecurity access scale through face-to-face interviews at homes. General and central obesities were measured and evaluated using standard methods. Results. Based on the findings, moderate-to-severe FI, as well as low SES, was more dominant in Kurds, compared to Azeris. After adjusting for confounders, being female(OR = 4.33, CI 95%: 2.35–7.97) and moderate-to-severe FI (OR = 2.00, CI 95%: 1.01–3.97) in Azeris and being female (OR = 5.39, CI 95%: 2.28–12.23) and higher total cost of household/capita (OR = 1.005, CI 95%: 1.002–1.009) in Kurds were related to higher odds of general obesity while low (OR = 0.41, CI 95%: 0.18–0.91) and moderate(OR = 0.13, CI 95%: 0.02–0.60) education levels were linked to lower chance of general obesity. Furthermore, the chance of central obesity was lower in Azeris with high educational levels (OR = 0.64, CI 95%: 0.21–0.94), females (OR = 0.72, CI 95%: 0.34–0.86), home owners (OR = 0.56, CI 95%: 0.31–0.91) and females Kurds (OR = 0.60, CI 95%: 0.37–0.97) with moderate-to-severe FI and higher total income per capita. In contrast, the chance of central obesity increased in Kurds with increased age (OR = 1.06, CI 95%: 1.02–1.10) and total cost of household per capita (OR = 1.004, CI 95%: 1.000–1.008). Conclusion. These findings show that the association between moderate-to-severe FI and risk of general/central obesity varies in Azeris, compared to Kurds. However, better SES decreased the chance of general/central obesity in both ethnic groups.

General and Central Obesity in Two Iranian Ethnic Groups Living in Urmia, West Azerbaijan, Iran: Effect of the Neighborhood Environment

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.

Reliability, comparative validity and stability of dietary patterns derived from an FFQ in the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study.

Background Emerging evidence suggests that neighborhood characteristics can have direct and indirect effects on the weight status of the residents. Objectives To assess the relationship between general and central obesity and the neighborhood environment in two ethnic groups (Azeri Turks and Kurds) living in Urmia city, Northwestern Iran. Patients and Methods In this cross-sectional study, 723 participants (427 women and 296 men) aged 20 - 64 years from two ethnic groups (Azeri Turks, n = 445; Kurds, n = 278) were selected from 38 neighborhoods using a combination of cluster, random, and systematic sampling methods. Neighborhood characteristics were obtained by a validated 22-item neighborhood and a health observational checklist. General and central obesity were measured and evaluated using standard methods. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to define the dominant neighborhood environment. The association of neighborhood characteristics with general and central obesity was analyzed by a logistic regression model. Results Three common neighborhood environments were identified: 1) modern-affluent, 2) central-high access and 3) marginal. These three factors explained 73.2% of the total variance. Overall, the participants living in a higher tertile of the central-high access neighborhoods had an increased chance of central obesity (OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.13 - 2.34). Azeri Turks living in the highest tertile of the modern-affluent neighborhoods had a significantly higher likelihood of having general obesity (OR = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.37 - 4.01). Adjustment for age, gender, marital status, socioeconomic status (SES), energy intake, and physical activity did not change the results. However, after adjustment for educational level, the association was not significant. Conclusions The findings point to a relationship between neighborhood characteristics and obesity only in the Azeri Turks. However, educational level was more important than neighborhood quality in predicting the risk of obesity