Trend of Staple Food Consumption Among Iranian Households Using National Household Budget Survey Data: Interaction with Socio-demographic Measurements

Background: This study aimed to examine the phenomenon of nutrition transfer in Iran from 2002 to 2017 and explore the evidence for effective policy for a healthier country. Methods: A repeated cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Central Bank of Statistics of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The per capita staple food consumption data of 212567 households in 79 cities were analyzed annually from 2002 to 2017. The study employed a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach to analyze the interaction between staple food patterns, demographic factors, and socio-economic changes. Results: The analysis of 16-year trends in per capita (kg/household/year) consumption of food commodities in Iran between 2002 and 2017 revealed a significant decrease in the consumption of rice and bread, which are the main contributors to the Iranian diet. Furthermore, the price index (PI) indicated a negative association with the per capita intake of rice, bread, and red meat. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the increase in food costs is associated with a significant reduction in the per capita consumption of staple foods and overall calorie intake.