New Delhi: Among multiple health challenges faced by India is an alarmingly rising obesity rate among adolescents.
Over 17 million children and teens are living with obesity at one end of the spectrum, while 24% of adolescents are underweight.
According to a study, India is expected to account for 11% of the global burden of child obesity by 2030.
It’s high time that the authorities take measures to contain this rising trend.
A group led by the Indian Council of Medical Research- National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN), has called for urgent action to improve the food environment for young people.
The national consortium is seeking a health tax on foods high in fat, sugar and salt, and also stricter rules around food marketed for children.
The group has urged a ban on selling foods high in fat, sugar and salt in canteens and near educational institutions, as provided in guidelines by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
“The rise in overweight and obesity among adolescents is an emerging public health challenge. If we don’t act now, it will affect the country’s health and economy in the long run,” acknowledged Dr VK Paul, Member of NITI Aayog, at a recent event to release policy brief on the growing health crisis.
The proposals, released on March 28, included regulating food advertisements, taxing foods high in fat, sugar and salt, and improving food label reading among youth. A comic book to help students understand food labels and a model nutrition curriculum for schools was also introduced.
ICMR-led association called Let’s Fix Our Food (LFOF) Consortium has been focusing on three key goals over the past two years — educating youth about food and nutrition, protecting them from harmful food marketing, and creating healthier school and home food environments.
According to Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary of the Department of Health Research and Director General of ICMR, focusing on adolescent health is not just a health issue but a national priority.
