Journal of School of Public Health and

  Background and Aim: In this paper, contribution rate of health capital in economic growth is computated.

  Materials and Methods: In order to this, fuzzy neural network method is applied on statistical data from Middle East and North Africa countries in the period of fifteen years (1996-2010).

  Results: The obtained results present that contribution rate of health capital in economic growth these countries has averagely been 44/79 percentages in this priod.

  Conclusion: Investment in the field of health and education form the political suggestion of this research.

  Background and Aim: Water and food born diseases are one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality in through the world. The objective of this study was to investigate factors affecting the persistence of diarrheal cases after the explosive epidemic phase of diarrheal disease in Yazd province.

  Materials and Methods: We designed a match case control study that was performed on base of incidence cases of diarrhea since 24 Aug, 2013 to 03 Sept, 2013.Characteristics of cases and control were obtained by interviewers using a pre-determined questionnaire. Logistic regression was used at 0.05 significant level.

  Results: Totally 69 incidences cases of diarrhea were compared with 138 controls. Incidence rate of diarrhea in Yazd province was 13.79 per thousand. The adjusted odds ratio estimate for presence a patient stricken with gastroenteritis in the household was 3.63 [95% CI: 1.43, 9.20]. The adjusted odds ratio for low education, history of the trip, history of contact with patient and eating outside the home were 1.75, 1.55, 1.93 and 1.37 respectively, that increase odds of disease but their effects was not statistically significant.

  Conclusion: In this study the most important risk factor for diarrhea was history of contact with the person with the disease in the household. This result may indicate the lack of personal hygiene by patients and their relatives and thus transmission of disease to others peoples. Therefore the role of health education and informing about transmission and preventive ways is very important in prevention and control of outbreaks of diarrhea diseases.

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.