Childhood Obesity – India Urged to Strengthen School Nutrition and Health Policies

Childhood Obesity – India may need a stronger school-based approach to improve children’s health as a new report recommends nutrition education, healthier food environments, and regular health monitoring to address the rising burden of childhood obesity.

A new report jointly prepared by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN), UNICEF India, and the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) has outlined a series of measures aimed at improving nutrition and reducing obesity among schoolchildren. The recommendations include introducing skill-based nutrition education for students from Classes 1 to 12, making nutrition awareness activities compulsory in schools, and restricting all forms of direct and indirect marketing of foods high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) to children below the age of 18.

Focus on Nutrition Education in Schools

According to the report, the Ministries of Education and Health should jointly introduce a structured nutrition curriculum across all school boards. It recommends allocating 45 to 60 minutes every week for practical nutrition learning aligned with the Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024 and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Students should learn about balanced diets, reading food labels, understanding food systems, and making informed food choices through classroom lessons as well as practical initiatives such as sugar, salt, and oil awareness boards.

Annual Health Report Cards Recommended

The report also proposes that every school should prepare a standardized health and nutrition report card for each student every year. These report cards would help monitor important indicators such as nutritional status, dietary habits, growth, physical fitness, physical activity, and overall health. Experts believe this system would support early identification of health concerns while helping parents and schools track children’s well-being more effectively.

More Physical Activity for Every Student

Another major recommendation calls for schools to include at least 60 minutes of structured physical activity in the daily timetable for all students, including those studying in Classes 11 and 12. The assessment highlighted that girls, particularly in the 15–19 age group, spend significantly less time in vigorous physical activity than boys. The report therefore encourages schools to introduce measures that ensure equal participation opportunities for girls in sports and exercise programmes.

Parents and Schools Should Work Together

Researchers also stressed the importance of involving families in promoting healthy eating habits. They recommend structured parent engagement programmes through regular parent-teacher meetings, including at least two nutrition-focused sessions every year. These discussions should encourage healthier lunchboxes, nutritious meals at home, awareness about iron and folic acid supplementation, deworming programmes, and the risks linked to unhealthy food consumption and digital food advertising aimed at children.

School Canteens Need Healthier Choices

The report recommends significant improvements in school canteens by replacing fried and packaged foods with healthier options such as fresh fruits, sprouts, nuts, traditional snacks, buttermilk, whole grains, and millet-based products. It also suggests pricing healthy food items lower than unhealthy alternatives to encourage better food choices among students.

Additionally, schools are encouraged to introduce dedicated healthy meal days or healthy snack corners to promote nutritious eating habits. Every canteen operator should possess a valid FSSAI licence and complete annual food safety training to maintain hygiene and food quality standards.

Stronger Rules for HFSS Foods

The experts have also urged the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to establish a uniform regulatory definition for HFSS foods. The report recommends immediate implementation of pending provisions under the Food Safety and Standards (Safe Food and Balanced Diets for Children in School) Regulations, 2020. These rules prohibit the sale and advertisement of foods high in saturated fat, trans-fat, added sugar, or sodium inside school campuses and within a 50-metre radius of school entrances.

Rising Childhood Obesity Raises Concern

The report notes that nearly 246 million children study across around 1.47 million schools in India, making schools an important setting for shaping lifelong dietary habits. It estimates that around 41 million children aged 5–19 years are living with overweight or obesity in 2025. If current trends continue, India could account for more than 11 percent of the global childhood obesity burden by 2030.

Researchers also pointed to the increasing prevalence of diet-related non-communicable diseases across the country. Findings from the ICMR-INDIAB study indicate that more than 101 million adults are living with diabetes, about 315 million have hypertension, and approximately 254 million are affected by generalized obesity, highlighting the need for preventive action beginning in childhood.