Earlier in May, in an attempt to curb an increase in type 2 diabetes in children, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) directed all affiliated schools to set up sugar boards. The new boards aims to promote healthier dietary choices among children. The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) issued a similar directive to schools in June.
Nutritionists TNM spoke to welcomed the initiative and added that monitoring children’s sugar intake should happen at homes too. They recommend changes in eating and lifestyle habits at home, which they say can also create a positive impact on children’s health.
The sugar boards in schools have been tasked with maintaining information on the daily recommended sugar intake and sugar contained in commonly consumed food items and providing substitutes for healthier choices. The boards will also educate children about the risks of high sugar intake and encourage them to curb excessive sugar consumption in their diet.
As of 2020, 33.8 million (3.38 crore) children in India have high BMI, according to the World Obesity Federation's report of March 2024. This is expected to rise by 6.2% each year, as per the report. By 2035, India could have 83.3 million (8.33 crore) children with high BMI, the report further said.
Child nutritionists say that while childhood obesity is a growing concern in India, it is mainly restricted to urban and high-income families, unlike malnutrition, which affects children from low-income families.
Neha Mansata, a nutritionist and registered dietitian (RD), says, “Government schemes focus on malnutrition and underweight issues because of their immediate life-threatening nature in low-income families. On the other hand, obesity is often linked to urban or wealthier groups. Because of this, public health efforts focus on survival and basic nutrition before addressing overnutrition.”
According to her, one of the reasons for the increase in obesity in children is their school environment and peer pressure. These two factors play a major role in forming a child’s food habits. “I noticed that many children like to skip meals because they don’t like home-cooked food. Instead, they prefer eating out or consuming processed snacks that are too sugary or too salty. This unhealthy diet usually has little fruit and is low in fibre. As a result, children may experience gut problems and a slower metabolism, which can lead to weight gain,” Neha says.
Another common unhealthy habit that she has noticed among children today is the dependence on technology while consuming food. “This habit will create huge problems for the future of the children if they don’t understand the quantity or quality of food they are having,” Neha adds.
Silky Mahajan, the founder and chief nutritionist of Foods & Nutrition Clinics, says. “Households can promote healthy eating by making healthy foods readily available, involving kids in meal preparation, and having regular family meals free from distractions. Meanwhile, schools can contribute by offering nutritious meal options, integrating practical nutrition education into the curriculum, limiting unhealthy foods on campus, and promoting physical activity. Consistent messaging across both environments is key.”
Both agree that the sugar boards are a good initiative.
“It is a positive move towards addressing the growing concern of lifestyle-related issues amongst schoolchildren right from the beginning. The real change begins when schools also cut down on processed junk in cafeterias and vending machines,” says Neha.
Shalini Poddar, a clinical psychologist and founder of Sprihaa Healing Centre, notes that childhood practices of overfeeding or consuming food while engaging in external distractions can influence the long-term growth and consumption patterns in children.
“In India, many parents tend to overfeed their children or feed them with distractions like television and phones. This creates a barrier in the child’s perception regarding what they like or dislike, when they feel hungry or what amount they need to consume to feel satisfied.”
She further adds, “Parents tend to give sweets and sugary food to children to relax and calm them down during difficult and stressful times. This, in turn, is reflected when the child relies on fast food and sugary substances as comfort food to cope with a crisis. The food acts as a distraction from stress, anxiety and overthinking.”
Asked about what changes parents can implement, Shalini says, “Parents need to be emotionally present for their children. They need to be involved in their diet and food-making process so that they don’t fall back on fast food for satiation.”
Shalini noted that after the COVID-19 pandemic, the cases relating to obesity and unhealthy diet have increased, and compulsive eating habits have become a major catalyst for it.
“Post-COVID people are putting on weight. They have become digital beings and have started avoiding social gatherings and activities, substituting emotional and social needs with food. Compulsive eating habits have become a culture where people know that they are overfeeding themselves, but they do it anyway.”
As a solution, she says, “We should have a balance with both nutrition-rich food and fast food so that they are aware of both and can make wiser choices based on health rather than taste. Restrictions will make them more curious and inclined towards unhealthy dietary choices.”