About 120,000 Iranians die each year from nutrition-related causes, an Iranian official said on Monday, as soaring food prices and declining consumption of key staples such as dairy, meat, fruits, and vegetables deepen the country’s public health crisis.
Out of 400,000 to 420,000 annual deaths in the country, roughly 35% are linked to malnutrition, Ahmad Esmailzadeh, director of the Nutrition Improvement Office at Iran’s Health Ministry, said at a World Food Day event.
“Deficiencies in diet and lack of essential nutrients have become a major contributor to mortality,” he said.
Government data show that nutritional imbalances—ranging from vitamin and mineral deficiencies to obesity in children and expectant mothers—are escalating nationwide.
Each year, about 10,000 Iranians die due to insufficient intake of omega-3 fatty acids, another 10,000 from not consuming enough fruits and vegetables, and 25,000 from low consumption of whole grains and bread.
Vitamin D deficiency, affecting between 50% and 70% of the population, remains widespread and directly impacts bone and immune health.
Rising prices, falling nutrition
Much of the crisis is attributed to soaring food inflation, which has sharply reduced household access to healthy diets, Tehran-based Rouydad24 wrote on Monday. The consumption of dairy and meat, two vital protein sources, has fallen to less than half of recommended levels.
Even vitamin supplements have become unaffordable for many families, particularly in deprived provinces such as Sistan and Baluchestan, Kerman, and Hormozgan, according to the outlet.
The consequences extend beyond mortality. Rouydad24 quoting nutrition experts reported alarming increases in obesity among children, stunted growth in poorer provinces, and rising rates of chronic illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes.
Research cited by the outlet shows that one in five children and adolescents is overweight or obese, while 30% of pregnant women experience unhealthy weight gain.
Economic and social costs
The financial burden of maintaining a balanced diet is straining family budgets, added the report. As inflation continues, more households are forced to cut back on basic food items, fueling a vicious cycle of malnutrition, illness, and poverty. Experts warn the crisis could have long-term effects on human development, including reduced cognitive performance in children.
“If iodine deficiency in pregnant women continues, the IQ of future generations will decline,” Esmailzadeh cautioned. “Nutrition is not only a health issue but a vital economic and social concern.”
Without comprehensive intervention, the daily warned, Iran will continue to face silent deaths and a worsening decline in public health.
