title: Improvement of dietary oil consumption following a community trial in a developing country: The role of translational research in health promotion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to determine the effects of the interventions of Isfahan Healthy Heart Program (IHHP) on the type of oil consumed at the population level. It also tried to assess how this strategy has been effective as a health policy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The IHHP, a six-year community intervention program (2001-07), aimed at health promotion through the modification of cardiovascular disease risk factors. It was performed in Isfahan and Najafabad counties (intervention area) and Arak county (reference area), all in central Iran. This study targeted the whole population of over 2,000,000 in the intervention area. The findings of annual independent sample surveys were compared with the reference area. Dietary interventions were performed as educational, environmental, and/or legislative strategies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 2001 to 2007, the mean of changes for hydrogenated oil consumption was -3.2 and -3.6, and for liquid oil it was 3.6 and 2.8 times per week in the intervention and reference areas, respectively (P < 0.001). According to Commerce office record, the increase in liquid oil distribution during 2000-2007 was significantly higher in Isfahan than Arak (34% vs. 25%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effects of the simple, comprehensive, and integrated action-oriented interventions of our program could influence policy making and its results at the community level. It can be adopted by other developing countries.
authors.affiliation: PhD Candidate, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Noushin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohammadifard
authors.forename: Nafiseh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Toghianifar
authors.forename: Firoozeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sajjadi
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alikhasi
authors.forename: Roya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kelishadi
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maghroun
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esmaeili
authors.forename: Shahram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ehteshami
authors.forename: Hamzeh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tabaie
authors.forename: Nizal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sarrafzadegan
keywords: Community Trial; Hydrogenated Oil; Liquid Oil; Oil Consumption