OBJECTIVE--To evaluate a model for dietary treatment of hyperlipidaemia in primary health care. DESIGN--The participating men received their initial dietary instructions from a dietitian, in a group, together with their wives. Thereafter the nurses used a checklist to evaluate dietary compliance throughout the year. The participants completed a simplified food frequency questionnaire six times during the study period. RESULTS--Throughout the year the total body weight, body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio decreased significantly. HDL cholesterol was significantly increased after one year. SETTING--The Industrial Health Care Centre, Ovansiljans Företagshälsovård AB in Mora, Sweden. PARTICIPANTS--35 men, aged 39-63 years (mean 51), with hyperlipidaemia, discovered at a health survey of persons attending an industrial health care centre. CONCLUSION--A simplified model for treatment of hyperlipidaemic patients can improve the dietary habits in the long term.