Iron deficiency anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough iron to produce an adequate amount of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Without enough hemoglobin, the body's tissues and organs do not get enough oxygen, leading to a range of symptoms and potential complications. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia and can affect people of all ages, but it is particularly prevalent in young children, pregnant women, and women of reproductive age due to increased iron needs or blood loss.