Relationship between Dairy Product Consumption and Oligospermia; a Case-Control Study

Introduction: Infertility affects an estimated 15% of couples globally and in Iran, a quarter of Introduction: One of the current debates regarding men’s reproductive health is the declining sperm count and the role of nutritional and environmental factors. This study aims to investigate the association between dairy product consumption and oligozoospermia, sperm count of 5 to 15 million per milliliter of semen, in adult men.Materials and Methods: This age-matched case-control study was conducted on 102 oligozoospermia and 306 healthy men (control group). Both groups were recruited from an infertility clinic in Tehran, the Royan Institute. Dietary intake of subjects was collected using a valid and reliable 168-item food frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (OR), ex-tracted from conditional logistic regression, were used to compare the occurrence of oligozoospermia by tertiles of dairy intake. Results: After adjusting for potential confounding variables, the high intake of low-fat dairy products was inversely associated with the risk of oligozoospermia (OR: 0.48; 95%CI: 0.24 – 0.95), (P =0.046). The higher intake of high–fat dairy products [(OR: 2.44; 95%CI: 1.26 – 4.73), (P =0.008)], high–fat milk [(OR: 2.16; 95%CI: 1.09 – 4.30), (P =0.043)], and ice creams [(OR: 2.37; 95%CI: 1.25 – 4.50), (P =0.008)] were also positively associated with oligozo-ospermia.Conclusion: The high intake of low–fat dairy foods seems to have a protective effect on oligozoospermia. Higher intake of high – fat dairy products, high– fat milk, and ice creams were associated with an increased risk of oligozo-ospermia.

Content analysis of food advertising in Iranian children\u27s television programs

Background: Advertisements can influence children\u27s health related behaviors. Television advertisements are the main avenues directing commercials at children in Iran. This study aimed to explore the content of food advertisement during children\u27s television programs in 2007-8 and to compare it with those reported in 2000. Methods: All advertisements broadcasted before, during, and after children\u27s programs aired on two major Iran national television networks were videotaped for a period of 4 weeks during 2007- 8. For each advertisement, type of product(s) and mode of presentation (s) were coded. Results: A total of 229 television advertisements were broadcasted. Food commercials were the most frequent group (31%) across the two channels. Among the food products advertised, calorie dense foods, including chocolate, soft drinks, extruded cereals, ice cream, cookies and candies were the most frequent. The appeal mainly used in television food advertisements was stimulation of hunger/thirst (38.5%). The advertisements were mostly presented as animations (54%) and the messages used were mainly directed to good taste. Conclusion: Although the total number of food advertisements during children\u27s television programs has decreased but the consumption of high fat, high sugar, low nutrient dense foods continues to be promoted. Policies to address the issue should be scrutinized

Essential nutrition and food systems components for school curricula: views from experts in Iran

Background: This study aimed to investigate food experts’ views on important nutrition and food systems knowledge issues for education purposes at schools in Iran.Methods: In 2012, semi-structured, face-to-face or telephone interviews were conducted with twenty-eight acknowledged Iranian experts in food and nutrition fields. Participants were selected from four major provinces in Iran (Tehran, Isfahan, Fars and Gilan). Open-ended interview questions were used to identify nutrition and food systems knowledge issues, which experts considered as important to be included in school education programs. Qualitative interviews were analyzed thematically using NVivo.Results: A framework of knowledge that would assist Iranian students and school-leavers to make informed decisions in food-related areas was developed, comprising five major clusters and several sub-clusters. Major knowledge clusters included nutrition basics; food production; every day food-related practices; prevalent nutritional health problems in Iran and improvement of students’ ethical attitudes in the food domain.Conclusion: These findings provide a guide to curriculum developers and policy makers to assess current education curricula in order to optimize students’ knowledge of nutrition and food systems

Participatory evaluation of municipal obesity prevention clubs in Tehran city: Strengths, challenges, and future direction.

Background and aim Community-based initiatives are important for obesity prevention. This study aimed to evaluate the activities of municipal obesity prevention clubs (OBCs) in Tehran, Iran, using a participatory approach. Methods The evaluation team was formed, and the members identified the OBC's strengths, and challenges and provided suggestions for change through a participatory workshop, observation, focus group discussions, reviewing relevant documents (n = 97), and 35 interviews with involved stakeholders. The MAXQDA software was used for data analysis. Results An empowerment training program for volunteers was identified as one of the strengths of OBCs. Despite the obesity prevention efforts of OBCs through public exercise sessions, healthy food festivals, and educational sessions, several challenges were identified that hinder participation in OBCs. These challenges included poor marketing strategies, poor training approaches in participatory planning, insufficient motivational support for volunteers, low perceived recognition of volunteers by the community, volunteers' low food and nutrition literacy, poor educational services in the communities, and limited funding for health promotion activities. Conclusion Weaknesses in all stages of community participation, including information, consultation, collaboration, and empowerment, in OBCs were detected. Facilitating a more enabling environment for informing and involving citizens, expanding neighborhood social capital, and involving health volunteers, academia, and all potential governmental sectors to collaborate for obesity prevention is recommended

Food Insecurity and Its Sociodemographic Correlates among Afghan Immigrants in Iran

The study determined the prevalence of food insecurity and its sociodemographic determinants among Afghan immigrants in two major cities of Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 310 adult females from immigrant Afghan households in Tehran (n=155) and Mashhad (n=155), who were recruited through multistage sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews, using a questionnaire. Food security was measured by a locally-adapted Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. More than 60% suffered from moderate-to-severe food insecurity, 37% were mildly food-insecure while about 23% were food-secure. Food insecurity was significantly more prevalent in female-headed households, households whose head and spouse had lower level of education, belonged to the Sunni sect, and those with illegal residential status, unemployment/low job status, not owning their house, low socioeconomic status (SES), and living in Mashhad. Prevalence of food insecurity was relatively high among Afghan immigrants in Iran. This calls for the need to develop community food security strategies for ensuring their short- and long-term health

Relationship between thyroid stimulating hormone and metabolic syndrome in overweight/obese children

Background: Background: Obesity, especially central obesity is related to many endocrine abnormalities, such as thyroid dysfunctions. Elevated levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is common in obese children, however, it is not clear if such condition is associated with increased cardiovascular risk factors. The study aimed to determine the association between levels of TSH in overweight and obese children with components of metabolic syndrome (Mets). Methods: The study sample included 197 overweight/obese 6-7 year old children in Tehran, Iran. Anthropometric (weight, waist circumference and height), metabolic (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides and fasting blood glucose) and hormonal (TSH) variables, as well as blood pressure were measured. Mets was defined according to Cook definition. Results: Totally, 20.3% and 79.7% of children were overweight and obese, respectively. Elevated levels of TSH were diagnosed in 10 subjects (5.1%), while Mets was seen in 35.4%. The most frequent component of Mets was abdominal obesity (72.5%). A weak positive correlation between BMI for age, Z scores and TSH level (r =0.11, P value= 0.123) was observed only in girls (r=0.2, P value= 0.034). TSH was not associated with components of Mets. Conclusion: Elevated TSH levels may be found in obese children; however, the association between TSH elevation and cardiovascular disease risk factors, including components of metabolic syndrome needs further investigation

Factors Associated With Unhealthy Snacks Consumption Among Adolescents in Iran’s Schools

Background: Well-informed interventions are needed if school-based health promotion is to be effective. Among other aims, the Iranian Health Promoting School (IHPS) program that was launched in 2011, has an important aim of promoting dietary behaviors of adolescents. The present study, therefore, aimed to investigate the factors affecting unhealthy snacking of adolescents and provide evidence for a more effective IHPS program. Methods: In a cross-sectional study design, 1320 students from 40 schools in Kerman city were selected using a proportional stratified random sampling method. A modified qualitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used to gather data about unhealthy snacking behavior. Data about intrapersonal and environmental factors were obtained using a validated and reliable questionnaire. A mixed-effects negative-binomial regression model was used to analyze the data. Results: Taste and sensory perception (prevalence rate ratio [PRR]=1.18; 95% CI: 1.09-1.27), being a male (PRR=1.20; 95% CI: 1.05-1.38) and lower nutritional knowledge (PRR=0.96; 95% CI: 0.91-0.99) were associated with higher weekly unhealthy snaking. Perceived self-efficacy (PRR=0.95; 95% CI: 0.91-1.00) negatively influenced the frequency of unhealthy snaking, with this approaching significance (P<.06). In case of environmental factors, high socio-economic status (SES) level (PRR=1.45; 95% CI: 1.26-1.67), single-parent family (PRR=1.14; 95% CI: 1.01-1.30), more social norms pressure (PRR=1.08; 95% CI: 1.01-1.17), pocket money allowance (PRR=1.21; 95% CI: 1.09-1.34), easy accessibility (PRR=1.06; 95% CI:1.01-1.11), and less perceived parental control (PRR=0.96; 95% CI: 0.92-0.99) all had a role in higher consumption of unhealthy snacks. Interestingly, larger school size was associated with less unhealthy snacking (PRR=0.79; 95% CI: 0.68-0.92). Conclusion: Unhealthy snacking behavior is influenced by individual, socio-cultural and physical-environmental influences, namely by factors relating to poor parenting practices, high SES level, family characteristics, improper social norms pressure, and less knowledge and self-efficacy of students. This evidence can be used to inform a more evidencebased IHPS program through focusing on supportive strategies at the home, school, and local community level

The Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE) Scale: Comparison scores from 27 sites in 22 countries

Household survey data from 27 sites in 22 countries were collected in 2017–2018 in order to construct and validate a cross-cultural household-level water insecurity scale. The resultant Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE) scale presents a useful tool for monitoring and evaluating water interventions as a complement to traditional metrics used by the development community. It can also help track progress toward achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6 ‘clean water and sanitation for all’. We present HWISE scale scores from 27 sites as comparative data for future studies using the HWISE scale in low-and middle-income contexts. Site-level mean scores for HWISE-12 (scored 0–36) ranged from 1.64 (SD 4.22) in Pune, India, to 20.90 (7.50) in Cartagena, Colombia, while site-level mean scores for HWISE-4 (scored 0–12) ranged from 0.51 (1.50) in Pune, India, to 8.21 (2.55) in Punjab, Pakistan. Scores tended to be higher in the dry season as expected. Data from this first implementation of the HWISE scale demonstrate the diversity of water insecurity within and across communities and can help to situate findings from future applications of this tool

Prevalence of overweight and obesity among junior high school students in a district of Tehran

&lt;strong&gt;BACKGROUND&lt;/strong&gt;: To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among a sample of middle class junior high school students in a district of Tehran and its association with certain demographic and dietary factors this study was carried out. &lt;strong&gt;METHODS&lt;/strong&gt;: Weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured and information on two-day food intake and demographics on 398 students aged 10-15 years from district 6 in Tehran were collected.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;strong&gt;RESULTS&lt;/strong&gt;: Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the studied girls were 19%, 6.5% and in boys were 14%, 13%, respectively. There was an inverse relationship between numbers of siblings and BMI. Overweight/obese students, bought snacks from school shops more frequently than other students did.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;strong&gt;CONCLUSIONS&lt;/strong&gt;: Findings showed that the high prevalence of overweight/obesity can be related to the household size, including the number of siblings and the pattern of snack purchase by the students.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;strong&gt;KEY WORDS&lt;/strong&gt;: Obesity, body weight, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, overweight, adolescents.&lt;br /&gt