Elucidation of Current Status, Implemented Policies and Interventions, Achieved Results, and Future Plans of Iran to Control the Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Diseases: A Review Article

This review study aims to shade light on the effects of carrying out interventions and policies in order to reduce the incidence and prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their behavioral risk factors (i.e., unhealthy diet, insufficient physical activity and smoking) and strategies and approaches to reduce their attributed burden.

In this research, the documents and reports available in the Ministry of Health, developed action plans, recommendations of national and international organizations, evidence gathered from monitoring and evaluations and the "National Action Plan and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases and Related Risk Factors in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2015-2025" were investigated with respect to  each of the three main risk factors of NCDs, including unhealthy diet, insufficient physical activity, and smoking (harmful consumption of alcohol has been reviewed in another article). Each risk factor has been discussed separately in the sections describing the current situation, policies and implemented interventions, findings, and future plans.

The implemented interventions and policies to achieve the goals stated in the "National Action Plan and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases and Related Risk Factors in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2015-2025" in the field of unhealthy nutrition, resulted in revising the food standards. Interventions in the field of physical activity have caused a 1.5% reduction in the relative prevalence of sedentary behavior in the society. Our research also revealed that interventions in the field of tobacco consumption have led a total decrease of 7.44% among Iranian people over 18 years of age, but a decrease in the use of hookah is not recorded, and its consumption has increased by 28% in 2021 compared to 2011.

According to the findings, the goals stated in the aforementioned document have not been fully achieved, so new interventions and policies should be used by those involved.