Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-qsmjn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T20:36:39.423Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An accelerated nutrition transition in Iran

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 December 2006

Hossein Ghassemi ,
Gail Harrison  and
Kazem Mohammad
Hossein Ghassemi
Affiliation:
National Study on Food and Nutrition Security in Iran, 18/2 Pasarghad Building, Shahrak Ghods, Tehran, Iran
Gail Harrison*
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, 36-081 Center for Health Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Kazem Mohammad
Affiliation:
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
*
*Corresponding author: Emailgailh@ucla.edu
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract:

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Objective:

To describe the emergence of the nutrition transition, and associated morbidity shifts, in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Design:

Review and analysis of secondary data relating to the socio-political and nutritional context, demographic trends, food utilisation and consumption patterns, obesity, and diet-related morbidity.

Results and conclusions:

The nutrition transition in Iran is occurring rapidly, secondary to the rapid change in fertility and mortality patterns and to urbanisation. The transition is occurring against the backdrop of lack of sustained economicgrowth. There is considerable imbalance in food consumption with low nutrient density characterising diets at all income levels, over-consumption evident among more than a third of households, and food insecurity among 20% of the population. Obesity is an emerging problem, particularly in urban areas and for women, and both diabetes and other risk factors for heart disease are becoming significant problems.

Keywords

Nutrition transitionIranObesityFood consumptionUrbanisation
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 5 , Issue 1a , February 2002 , pp. 149 - 155
Copyright
Copyright © CABI Publishing 2002

References

1Islamic Republic of Iran. Country Report on Population, Reproductive Health and Family Planning Program in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Tehran: Islamic Republic of Iran, February 1998.Google Scholar
2Ghassemi, H. Food and Nutrition Security in Iran: A Study on Planning and Administration. Tehran: Plan and Budget Organization, Islamic Republic of Iran, April 1997 [original in Persian, English translation dated September 1997].Google Scholar
3Ghassemi, H. National Food and Nutrition Security: A Note on Planning and Administration. Tehran: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, representation in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2000.Google Scholar
4Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The State of Food and Agriculture 1998. FAO Agriculture Series No. 31. Rome: FAO, 1998.Google Scholar
5United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Human Development Report 2000. New York: UNDP, 2001.Google Scholar
6The World Bank. World Development Indicators 1998. Washington, DC: The World Bank, 1999.Google Scholar
7Zoonoz, FB. In: Rais Dana, F, ed. Poverty in Iran. Proceedings of a Seminar, Behzisti University, Tehran, 2000.Google Scholar
8United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)/Tehran. Overcoming Iodine Deficiency in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Tehran: UNICEF/Tehran, 2000.Google Scholar
9Ministry of Health and Medical Education and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)/Tehran. The Multiple Health Indicator Cluster Survey of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 23–27 September 1995. Tehran: UNICEF/Tehran, 1996.Google Scholar
10Nour Balaa, AA, Mohammad, K. Second National Health Survey in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Tehran: Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Undersecretary for Research, 2001.Google Scholar
11Omidvar, N, Ghazi-Tabatabie, M, Harrison, GG, Egtesadi, S, Mahboob, S, Pourbakht, M. Development and validation of a food frequency questionnaire for screening vitamin A status in women of childbearing age in northwestern Iran. Food Nutr. Bull. [in press].Google Scholar
12Pajouyan, J. In: Ghassemi, H. Food and Nutrition Security in Iran: A National Study on Planning and Administration. Tehran: Plan and Budget Organization, Islamic Republic of Iran, 1998.Google Scholar
13Zali, MR, Mohammad, K, Masdjedi, MR. National Health Survey in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Tehran: Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Undersecretary for Research Affairs, 1993.Google Scholar
14Ghassemi, H, Kimiagar, M, Koupahi, M. Food and Nutrition Security in Tehran Province. Tehran: National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, 1996.Google Scholar