How unequally is consumption of products harmful to health distributed between Iranian households?

Abstract Background: Products harmful to health encompass a wide range of goods, including tobacco, high-fat, high-salt, and high-sugar foods, alcoholic beverages, addictive substances, unlicensed food supplements, and certain cosmetic products. This study aimed to assess the extent of inequality in the consumption of such health-harmful products among Iranian households. Methods: This secondary analysis utilized data from Iran’s 2019 Households Income and Expenditure Survey, comprising a representative sample of 38,328 households. Expenditures on harmful products were identified following guidelines from Iran’s