Background and Objectives: Obesity has been known as a risk factor in cardiovascular disease. Educational intervention aimed at modifying dietary habits and physical activity patterns are essential in management of obesity. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of family-based intervention and individual-based intervention on body mass index and life style.
Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on subjects suffering from obesity or overweight in Islam-Abad, Zanjan (2005-2006). The subjects were assigned nonrandomly to either the family-based group (n=42) or individual-based group (n=49). Data were collected using a questionnaire. Intervention included counseling to make change, in eating habit and exercise behavior. Subjects in the individual-based group received intervention individually in the clinics, and those in the family-based intervention received intervention by home visit. The data were analyzed using Chi-square test, T-test, Paired T-test, Mann-Whitney test and, Wilcoxon test.
Results: The mean of body mass index decreased from 30.74±3.99 to 30.1±3.90 and from 31.98±6.64 to 31.57±6.63 in family-based group and in individual-based group, respectively. After intervention, the mean of body mass index significantly decreased in both groups (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in body mass index between two groups after intervention (P=0.52). The mean scores of dairy product consumption and fruit consumption as well as physical activity were increased in both groups (p<0.0001).
Conclusion: It was concluded that both family-based and individual -based intervention, focusing on physical activity and diet counseling through regular follow-up meetings, could be effective ways of controlling CVD risk factors.

Backgrounds and Objective: Fear of the side effects associated with drug treatments is one of the most common causes of ineffective pain relief after surgery. In this study, we determined the effects of aromatherapy (lavender essential oil) in discectomy postoperative pain.

Materials and Methods: In this double-blind clinical trial study, sixty patients were equally divided into two groups based on random allocation block. The rate of postoperative pain was measured by using the visual analog scale at 4, 8 and 12 hours after the onset of postoperative pain. If VAS>3, patients of the intervention group received inhalation aromatherapy with lavender essence while the control group received inhalation aromatherapy with placebo (Almond). The data obtained were analyzed by statistical software SPSS version 22 and using the nonparametric tests.

Results: The pain severity changes between the two groups after intervention in the first and second phases (4 and 8 hours after postoperative pain onset) was not significant (p> 0.01), but the third phase (12 hours after postoperative pain onset) was significant (p <0.01).

Conclusion: Results of this study indicates that using aromatherapy with lavender essential oil for pain relief after discectomy surgery in the early hours after pain onset is not effective, but it can be recommended to be administered in acute pain with moderate to mild severity, as an effective way to reduce discomfort.