Iran sees improvement in malnutrition rankings, up 12 spots
Iran has improved its ranking in the global malnutrition index, moving up 12 spots to 90th place out of 167 countries, according to a senior official.
Ameneh Zare’, deputy head of the National Association to Combat Hunger, made the announcement on the occasion of World Food Day at a conference titled ‘Healthy Food, from Selection to Consumption’ at the country’s Nutrition and Food Industry Research Institute, IRNA reported.
Zare’ noted that global events such as political conflicts and water scarcity have led to food insecurity worldwide.
She emphasized that malnutrition encompasses both undernutrition and overnutrition, citing the example of people who overconsume carbohydrates due to food scarcity, leading to obesity.
Zare’ also highlighted that some regions in eight provinces in Iran face food insecurity, with the provinces of Kerman, Sistan and Baluchestan, Khuzestan, and Khorasan having the highest rates of food insecurity.
At the conference, Tirang Neyestani, a member of the scientific board of the Nutrition and Food Industry Research Institute, stressed that access to healthy and sufficient food is a human right.
He criticized common dietary misconceptions, such as the benefits of whole wheat bread, and warned about the risks of consuming brown rice due to its high arsenic content.
Another speaker, Samira Rabiei, emphasized the importance of healthy cooking methods, recommending the elimination of solid fats and the use of healthy oils for cooking.