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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
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Abstract:

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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

Information

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

References

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