Journal of School of Public Health and

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Background and Aim: Food and nutrition is one of the most essential needs of human societies and gaining sufficient and suitable food for all people is based on food security. Children are one of the most volnurable groups, so researchers and nutritionest emphasize on studying and analyzing of different aspects, effects and associated facters on prevalence of food insecurity and obesity among children. This study aimed to determine the association between obesity and food security and some related family factors inYazd primery school children.

Materials and Methods: Using two stage cluster sampling from 35 Yazd primary schools, a total of 3245 students aged 9-11y (1587 boys & 1658 girls) were randomly selected. Then 187 students 9-11y who had a BMI 95th percentile of Hosseini et al. (1999) reference, were identified as obese and 187 same age and gender pupils (having 15th<85th percentile) were studied as controls. Data were collected by demographic and USDA questionnaires.

Results: We found that the prevalence of obesity among student aged 9-11 years was 13.3% and the prevalence of food insecurity was 30.5%. Data analysing indicated that with adjusting variables such as "paternal education and occupation, economic status" there was a significant association between obesity and food insecurity in these levels: father's educated by secondary school, self-employment and low and moderate level of economic status. However, no significant association was observed between obesity and food insecurity when family size and maternal education were adjusted.

Conclusion: Paternal education and occupation, and family economic status were recognised as associated factors with food insecurity but other factors didn,t show significant relationship. There is lack of published information regarding some factors affecting food security therefore, it is necessary to performe such studies in other regions too.

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Background and Aim: Body mass index (BMI) is a generally accepted indicator of body weight and obesity. A BMI>30 indicates obesity, which is regarded as a risk factor for many diseases, because their pathogeneses are associated with increasing numbers of free radicals derived from oxygen. The present study was a clinical trial carried out in order to study the effects of weight loss on enzymatic antioxidants and its association with dietary intakes of copper, zinc, iron, selenium and, magnesium in obese women.
Materials and Methods: Thirty obese women, 19-50 years old, of whom informed consent was obtained, were included in the study. Information was collected on their general characteristics, and anthropometric measurements were made. A diet with a 500- to 1000-calorie deficit was recommended to the subjects, on the basis of micronutrient intakes estimated through a 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire 3 days before and after the intervention. The aim was to bring about a weight loss of 10%. A 10-ml blood sample was taken from each subject, before and after intervention, for enzymatic measurement of enzymatic antioxidants in the red blood cells.
Results: Weight loss caused a significant increase (p<0.01) in the mean glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase (CAT) no statistically significant change occurred in the mean values of superoxide dismutase (SOD) or glutathione peroxidase (GPX). The only association between the enzymes and trace elements (Cu, Zn, Fe, Mg, Se) was a negative linear correlation between daily zinc intake and GPX before intervention (r=0.395, p<0.05)
Conclusion: A 10% reduction in body weight might be an effective step toward increasing levels of enzymatic antioxidants which would minimize injuries caused by free radicals and reduce oxidative stress in obese women. Attention should be paid to the dietary intakes of micronutrients essential for the activities of these enzymes.

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Background and Aim: The normal plasma fatty acid (FA) composition changes in hypertriglyceridemic obese and overweight indiuviduals. The objective of this study was to determine the plasma fatty acid composition in hypertriglyceridemic obese or overweight subjects with different FABP2 genotypes.

Methods and Materials: Forty-six hypertriglyceridemic subjects (33 men and 13 women, 25-60 years old) referred to the Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center (EMRC), Shariaty Hospital in Thehran, between Mehr and Esfand 1386 (September 2007-March 2008), were genotyped for FABP2 polymorphism by PCR-RFLP. In addition, their blood lipid profile was determind enzymetically, photometrically and immunoturbidometrically, and their plasma fatty acid composition by gas-choromatography. Also, body weights and heights were measured and body mass index calculated.

Results: Positive associations were observed between Thr54 polymorphism in FABP2 protein and plasma lipid fractions (SFA, PUFA, ω-6-, ω-3- and total fatty acids (P<0.001 )). No significant differences were observed between PPARα polymorphism and plasma fatty acid composition, except for ω-3 fatty acids,

Conclusion: In obese or overweight hypertriglyceridemic subjects the plasma fatty acid compositions are different. The levels of some fatty acids are higher, while those of some others are lower, in different FABP2 genotypes. On the whole, higher levels of SFA, PUFA, ω-6, ω-3, and total fatty acids were more pronounced in Thr54- than in Ala54-carrieres.

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Background and Aim: Food insecurity implies a limited ability to secure adequate and safe food or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways. The nutrition transition in Iran is taking place in the context of rapid demographic change and urbanization in spite of underweight, obesity and overweight increased, especially among women. It is usually expected that food-insecure people have an inadequate food intake, less body fat, and body weight. However, several studies in developed countries have shown a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity among food-insecure household members, especially women. Under weight and overweight or obesity is the most common nutritional disorder in the developed countries and is assuming to become a serious health problem in developing countries. This study aimed to assess the association between food insecurity and socio-economic factors in households and body mass index among urban women in Dezful in 2008.

Materials and Methods: A total of 400 household were randomly selected by two stage sampling from different areas in Dezful. Heights and weights of all women were measured based on standard protocols, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. BMI status was defined based on cut-off values recommended by NIH( under weight = BMI<18.5, normal weight 18.5< BMI< 25, overweight 25≤BMI<30 and obesity BMI≥30 Women provided detailed demographic and food insecurity information via a face- to- face interview. Information on food insecurity was collected using the instrument originally developed by USDA. All analysis was conducted using the SPSS statistical package.

Results: The prevalence of household food insecurity was %37.6 and 42.8% of the women were overweight, and 12% obese, respectively. Results showed that, BMI was positively associated with food insecurity, women's age and family size and inversely associated with , race and economic status (p <0.05).

Conclusion: It is evident that household food insecurity, overweight and obesity coexist in Dezful. Women age, family size, race and economic status were recognized as associated factors with food insecurity but other factors didn't show significant relationship. There is lack of published information regarding food insecurity and some factors affecting with body weight status therefore, it is necessary to perform such studies in other regions too.

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Background and Aim: Obesity is now recognized as the most prevalent metabolic disease worldwide.A decrease in resting energy expenditure (REE) may increase risk of obesity. This study was carried out to compare dietary, biochemical, anthropometric and body composition parameters and physical activity in obese women with a normal and those with a low REE.

Materials and Methods: A total of 49 subjects (women, 30-50 years old), were divided into three groups: group one (obese, n = 16) with a body mass index (BMI) of 28-39.9 and a normal REE, group 2 (obese, n = 17) with a BMI of 28-39.9 and a low REE, and group 3 (n = 16) with a normal BMI and a normal REE as the control group. Anthropometric measurements, body composition, REE and fasting blood lipid profile were determined in the 3 groups. In addition, dietary intakes and physical activity were assessed using valid questionnaires.

Results: There was no significant difference in body composition between the two obese groups. However, REE was significantly lower in the obese group with a lowREE than in the other 2 groups.Energy and macronutrient intakes and physical activity were not statistically different among the 3 groups. Neither was there any significant difference between the 2 obese groups (one with a normal and one with a low REE) as regards lipid profile.

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that in some obese people the resting energy expenditure is much lower as compared to that in other obese people, although their body composition, age, sex, dietary intake, lipid profile and physical activity are not different.