| Background: Identifying and prioritizing the most appropriate policies for enhancing nutritional
habits are vital for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This study
was conducted to prioritize the nutritional policies in Iran.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey applying the two-round Delphi technique was used to
prioritize policy options in preventing the burden of NCDs. In the first round, the experts
in health and nutrition policy were asked to prioritize 21 policy options on a 5-point Likert
scale. After analyzing the first-round questionnaire, the highest mean and lowest dispersion
index were calculated as an indicator of high-priority options. In the second round, the policy
options suggested by the participants were added to the second-round questionnaire. Finally,
the questionnaires were sent to all the participants in case they desired to change their opinions.
Results: The expert achieved consensus on “principles of healthy eating” courses in the
curriculum of students as a high-priority policy option. In this regard, “promoting community
education and customizing healthy food choice” was the next high priority policy option. On
the other hand, the lowest policy priority option was “sending free/low-price healthy drinks
at home”. The three high priority policy categories were reformulating the content of food,
enhancing the consumers’ knowledge, and food labeling, respectively.
Conclusion: Our findings showed that reformulation, food promotion, and food labeling had
the highest priorities for preventing NCDs in Iran. Although food provision policies were costeffective in developing countries such as Iran, it is essential to provide sub-structures for the
reformulation of food products. |