Iran is the "second saddest country in the world" after Iraq

"90 percent" of Iranians do not engage in regular physical activity, "70 percent" of them are obese, Iranians are among the "most inactive" people in the world, and after the Iraqi people, they are the "sadest" people in the world.

These statistics were announced on Wednesday, November 3, by the Vice President of the Sports Medicine Federation, the Deputy Director of Research at the Ministry of Health, and the President of the Iranian Welfare Association.

According to IRNA, Laleh Hakemi, Vice President of the Sports Medicine Federation, spoke at a conference in Yazd about the low level of sports activities among Iranians.

Ms. Haqi said that "to prevent diabetes and its complications, physical activity and regular exercise between 150 and 250 minutes should be included in citizens' schedules."

According to Mizan News Agency, Reza Malekzadeh, Deputy Director of Research at the Ministry of Health, announced at a conference that "nearly 70 percent of Iranians are obese."

Mr. Malekzadeh added: "10 percent of Iranians have diabetes, and 25 percent of Iranians are at risk of developing diabetes within the next 10 to 15 years."

He also stated that 50 percent of the causes of deaths in Iran are "heart and brain strokes" caused by nutritional problems.

The Health Ministry official added that "50 percent of people have high blood pressure by the time they reach the age of 55."

According to him, "nearly 70 percent of Iranians' calories come from sugar, which is a major factor in weight gain and obesity."

The Deputy Director of Research at the Ministry of Health has stated that "we need a national movement to improve nutritional status and increase physical activity."

Hassan Mousavi Chelak, the head of the Iranian Aid Association, also said in a speech that Iran is the second "sad" country in the world.

Mr. Mousavi Chelak added: "Based on the average social happiness statistics provided by reputable international organizations, Iran is not among the happy countries."

According to him, "Iran ranks 105th among 185 countries and is second from the bottom in the saddest list; we are considered the second saddest country in the world after Iraq."

He also considered the rate of mental disorders in the country to be high, saying that in some areas of Tehran, these disorders "reach around 80, which is described as very critical."

According to Mr. Mousavi, "People have become indifferent to the fate and events that befall others, and this is a sign of a decline in social cohesion."

The head of the Iranian Welfare Association has considered "the increase in black socialization, the changing curve of AIDS infection with the trend of sexual intercourse, the feminization of addiction, and the childishness of crimes" as signs of a "social crisis" in Iran.

Mousavi Chelak also reported that there are more than 200,000 alcohol addicts in Iran, and that even severe punishments have not been able to prevent this phenomenon.

Iranian society has been struggling with numerous social harms in recent years, and the fourth session to review these harms was held on Monday in the presence of Ali Khamenei.

No details of the meeting have been released yet, but Hassan Rouhani said in the open court of the parliament on Tuesday that the Leader of the Islamic Republic said in the meeting that "to combat social harm, even those who do not believe in religion and Islam, if they accept Iran, must enter the field with all their might."

Source: Radio Farda