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News18
30-06-2025
- Health
- News18
From Junk Food To Heart Risk, Why Children Are Falling Sick So Early
Last Updated: The shift to calorie-dense, nutrient-poor diets has fuelled early obesity, insulin resistance, and rising diabetes risk in kids. Once considered 'grown-up problems', heart disease and diabetes are now affecting children, and that is alarming. Changing lifestyles, unhealthy eating habits, increased screen time, and even genetics are putting children at risk far earlier than expected. In this article, we unpack what's driving this disturbing trend, how common it really is, and what parents, schools, and communities can do to help prevent it. Are Children Growing Up Sick These Days? Yes, India ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of overweight and obese children, contributing significantly to the global burden of obesity-related diseases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) report published in xxx. The Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS) 2019 shows that 10–15% of children in the country aged 5 to 19 years are either overweight or obese—with the number soaring to 29% in urban private schools. This isn't just about weight; deeper issues are emerging beneath the surface. Early signs of type 2 diabetes are now being detected in adolescents, with studies suggesting that 1–2% of urban teens show impaired glucose tolerance, a precursor to full-blown diabetes. According to the WHO, Type 2 diabetes affects how your body uses sugar (glucose) for energy. It stops the body from using insulin properly, which can lead to high levels of blood sugar if not treated. Cardiovascular risk markers are also on the rise: nearly 5% of children in the same age group have been found to have hypertension, while around 10% exhibit abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels. What's Making Our Children Unhealthy? Excess body fat, especially visceral fat, increases insulin resistance and elevates blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, all of which are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Spending more time on screens and less on physical activity makes the problem worse. The ICMR's 2019 Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS) revealed that only 44% of Indian children aged 10-19 engage in adequate physical activity (at least 60 minutes daily). Urban children, in particular, spend more time on smartphones, gaming consoles, or studying, leaving little room for outdoor play or exercise. Unhealthy Diet Indian diets have shifted dramatically over the past few decades. Traditional whole-grain and vegetable-based diets are being replaced by processed foods high in sugar, salt, and trans fats. A 2022 study in the 'Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care' noted that Indian children consume an average of 15-20% of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods like sugary drinks, packaged snacks, and fast food. These dietary patterns contribute to obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia (abnormal lipid levels), which are precursors to heart disease and diabetes. The consumption of sugary beverages is particularly alarming. A 2023 report by the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) found that children in urban India consume sugary drinks 3-4 times per week on average, significantly increasing their risk of type 2 diabetes. Genetic And Familial Predisposition South Asians, including Indians, have a genetic predisposition to insulin resistance and cardiovascular diseases, as noted in a 2018 study published in 'Nature Reviews Endocrinology.' Children with a family history of diabetes or heart disease are at higher risk, especially if lifestyle factors amplify this predisposition. The ICMR's 2020 report highlighted that children with a family history of lifestyle diseases should be screened early, as genetic risks can show up as early as their teenage years. How Urban Life Is Quietly Making Indian Children Sicker? India's booming cities may be symbols of progress, but for children growing up in them, they're increasingly becoming hotspots of poor health. Urbanisation, air pollution, and widening economic gaps are now key contributors to the rising risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Indian children. A 2021 study published in 'The Lancet Planetary Health' made a troubling connection: exposure to air pollution in Indian cities is directly linked to increased cardiovascular risk in children. How? Pollutants like PM2.5 trigger inflammation and oxidative stress, both early warning signs for heart disease. And this isn't a small problem; 98% of Indian children live in areas where air pollution exceeds WHO's safe limits for PM2.5. Cities such as Delhi, Kanpur, and Patna consistently record annual PM2.5 levels of 80 to 100 µg/m³, far higher than the WHO's recommended cap of 10 µg/m³. In other words, children in these cities are breathing in air that's 8 to 10 times more toxic than what's considered safe. Nutrition Gap: Too Much For Some, Too Little For Others Health risks aren't just in the air, they are on the plate too. Urban life has radically changed how Indian children eat and move. A 2022 study in the 'Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care' found that urban children consume 20–25% of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods like burgers, instant noodles, chips, and sugary drinks. In rural areas, that number is lower, at 10–15%, but rising. This shift to calorie-dense, nutrient-poor diets has fuelled early obesity, insulin resistance, and rising diabetes risk in kids. And it's not just what they eat, it is also what they don't do. According to The Lancet Planetary Health study, 70% of urban Indian children don't have access to safe playgrounds or parks, leading to sedentary lifestyles. With fewer green spaces and more screen time, active play has taken a backseat. Children from higher-income urban families are at risk of overnutrition. The 2019 CNNS report by ICMR found that 29% of students in urban private schools (mostly from affluent backgrounds) were overweight or obese, compared to just 10% in government schools. On the flip side, children from low-income and rural households often face undernutrition in early years, which sets them up for future problems. A 2021 study in 'The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health' found that undernourished children who experience rapid weight gain during adolescence (common in India's transitioning economy) are 20–30% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life due to impaired insulin sensitivity. Raising Healthy Kids: What Every Parent Should Know Parents should be vigilant for signs that their child may be at risk. According to the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) and Indian Paediatric Association guidelines, key indicators include: Excess weight or obesity: A body mass index (BMI) above the 85th percentile for age and sex. Fatigue or low energy: May indicate poor cardiovascular health or early insulin resistance. Acanthosis nigricans: Dark, velvety patches on the skin (often on the neck or armpits), a marker of insulin resistance. Frequent thirst or urination: Early signs of type 2 diabetes. High blood pressure or cholesterol: Often detected during routine paediatric check-ups. If these signs are present, consult a paediatrician for screening tests such as fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, or lipid profiles. Preventing these lifestyle diseases in children isn't about one big fix, it takes a mix of smart, everyday choices. Here are some proven, practical strategies that really work. Promote A Balanced Diet: Encourage traditional Indian foods like whole grains (millets, brown rice), pulses, vegetables, and fruits. A 2021 PHFI report emphasised that diets rich in fibre and low in refined sugars reduce diabetes risk by 20-30%. Limit processed foods, sugary drinks, and trans fats. Replace packaged snacks with healthier options like roasted makhanas, nuts, or fruit. Control portion sizes and avoid forcing children to 'finish their plate," which can lead to overeating. Encourage Physical Activity Ensure children get at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily, as recommended by WHO. Activities like cycling, swimming, or traditional games (e.g., kho-kho, kabaddi) are excellent options. Limit screen time to 2 hours per day, as advised by the AAP. Encourage outdoor play or sports to replace sedentary habits. Regular Health Check-Ups Schedule annual paediatric check-ups to monitor BMI, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. The Indian Academy of Paediatrics recommends screening for lipid profiles and glucose levels in children with risk factors (e.g., obesity, family history) starting at age 10. Early detection of prediabetes or dyslipidaemia can prevent progression to full-blown diseases. Foster Healthy Habits At Home Be a role model. A 2019 study in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health found that children are more likely to adopt healthy behaviours if parents demonstrate them. Create a supportive environment by stocking healthy foods and engaging in family activities like walks or yoga. Raise Awareness And Educate Educate children about the importance of healthy living. Schools can play a role by incorporating nutrition and physical education into curricula, as recommended by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's 2020 guidelines on NCD prevention. Schools are critical in combating childhood NCDs. The CBSE and ICSE boards have introduced health and wellness programs, but implementation varies. A 2022 PHFI report urged schools to ban sugary drinks and junk food in canteens and promote physical education. Community initiatives, such as local sports clubs or awareness campaigns, can also encourage healthier lifestyles. Government And Policy Efforts top videos View all The Indian government has taken steps to address NCDs in children. The National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke (NPCDCS), launched by the Ministry of Health, includes screening and awareness for adolescents. The 2020 Fit India Movement also promotes physical activity among schoolchildren. However, experts argue that more targeted policies, such as taxes on sugary drinks or stricter regulations on junk food advertising, are needed to curb the epidemic. tags : children health diabetes heart diseases Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 30, 2025, 17:13 IST News zip From Junk Food To Heart Risk, Why Children Are Falling Sick So Early
Hindustan Times
23-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Battle against salt must begin with school meals
Salt in Indian diets holds a special place, not just in our kitchens, but also in our history, language and even politics. It was salt, after all, that Mahatma Gandhi chose as a symbol of resistance against British colonial rule. Even today, the phrase 'namak ka farz' (the duty of salt) speaks to a deep cultural association between salt and loyalty, sacrifice, and trust. But while salt is rich in symbolism and tradition, it's also quietly contributing to a serious health crisis in India today. Dietary habits formed early in life tend to persist, excessive salt consumption during childhood can shape taste preferences, making children more likely to prefer salty foods later in life. (HT Photo) Excess salt consumption is a major contributor to high blood pressure, which significantly increases the risk of hypertension, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs have contributed to more than 60% of all deaths in India over the past decade, with CVDs constituting a quarter of these diseases. Hypertension is a leading cause of the problem, given that approximately one in four Indian adults suffers from the condition. This crisis is not just limited to adults. The Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS) (2016-18) found that 5% of Indian adolescents between 10 to 19 years old are hypertensive. This is a concerning statistic, as children with hypertension have about seven times higher odds of developing hypertension in adulthood. Moreover, dietary habits formed early in life tend to persist, excessive salt consumption during childhood can shape taste preferences, making children more likely to prefer salty foods later in life. Research indicates the typical daily salt intake for Indians ranges from 8-11 grams of salt. This is double WHO's recommended daily salt intake of less than 5 grams. The recommended intake for children is below 4 grams of salt. Against this backdrop, a compelling strategy to address this silent crisis is to improve what children eat at school. PM Poshan (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman), India's critical school meal programme, provides cooked meals daily to 118 million students across 1.12 million schools. Each PM Poshan meal accounts for 25-30% of a child's daily nutritional requirements, making it important to ensure that they are wholesome and nutritious. Initiatives like school nutrition gardens, or Poshan Vatikas, under the scheme are a positive step, encouraging the use of fresh ingredients and healthier food habits. School meals can be made healthier by reducing salt, a key proposed policy intervention outlined in the National Multisectoral Action Plan to combat NCDs (2017–22). This will help achieve India's national goal to cut population-level salt intake by 30% by 2025. While PM Poshan guidelines specify nutritional norms for calories, proteins and various food groups, they offer a broad recommendation to add salt 'as per taste'. Introducing standards to require a gradual reduction of salt in PM Poshan will help reduce salt intake among school children and also modify their taste towards low salt food. Globally, countries are adopting comprehensive strategies to make public food healthier. These include limiting the use of ultra-processed foods, and prioritising fresh, nutrient-rich ingredients in public food programmes. These experiences exhibit success stories in ensuring healthy public food procurement. Singapore mandates lower-sodium menus across government institutions. In Brazil, school feeding programmes emphasise fresh, minimally processed foods while reducing ultra-processed ingredients. Chile has introduced front-of-pack warning labels and prohibits high-sodium foods in school kiosks. India, too, has a well-designed school meals policy that reflects many of these principles, such as the use of fortified staples, provision of mid-day meals, and adherence to nutritional guidelines. The impact of these provisions could be further strengthened through consistent implementation and enforcement of FSSAI's regulation on promoting healthy food environments in schools by restricting the availability and marketing of foods high in saturated fats, trans fats, added sugars, and sodium (HFSS). As a first step, we must set clear, age-specific salt standards at the population level, beginning with PM Poshan. There should be no ambiguity about how much iodised salt is appropriate for children of different age groups. Equally important is involving parents and caregivers in this effort since children's taste preferences are shaped not only in schools and anganwadis, but also at home. This is a moment for the ministries of education and health to come together to develop and implement guidelines on salt consumption for children. Ultimately, this isn't just about cutting down on salt. It's about reimagining public health, starting with what's served on a child's plate. Urvashi Prasad was director, Niti Aayog. The views expressed are personal.
Indian Express
02-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
AIIMS study highlights urgent need for coordinated action on childhood obesity
A study by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has sounded a warning on an escalating health emergency among school children in the national capital. Of nearly 4,000 students in the six-19 years age group surveyed across Delhi's public and private schools, 13.4 per cent were found to be obese, and 7.4 per cent suffering from hypertension. The data draws an even more sobering contrast when viewed through the lens of socioeconomic status — 24 per cent private-school students were classified as obese, compared to 4.5 per cent in government schools. Students in private-school were also found to be twice as likely to have elevated blood sugar and three times more likely to exhibit metabolic syndrome — a dangerous cluster of conditions that includes hypertension, abnormal cholesterol, and insulin resistance. Left unchecked, these significantly increase the risk of early-onset cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, psychological stress, and Type 2 diabetes. The Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (2016-18) had already shown that 15.35 per cent of school-age children and 16.18 per cent of adolescents in India are pre-diabetic. Together with the AIIMS study, the implications are troubling. Once grappling with malnutrition, India now faces a dual burden: For urban and affluent children, prosperity has paradoxically become a vector of poor health. Lancet's 2024 Global Burden of Disease Study reported that the number of obese children in India has ballooned from 0.4 million in 1990 to 12.5 million in 2022. This staggering increase is a fallout of rapid urbanisation, the ubiquity of high-calorie, nutrient-poor diet — often involving ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks masquerading as child friendly and healthy — surging screen time, and diminishing physical activity. The AIIMS report signals that student health needs equal and immediate attention alongside academics. The CBSE's recent directive to set up sugar boards in affiliated schools to reinforce the dangers of excessive sugar consumption is a welcome move in that direction. Physical education must be made non-negotiable and junk food driven out of school canteens with the same urgency that was once reserved for tobacco. Parents must re-evaluate lifestyle choices at home. Policy, too, has a vital role. National guidelines on childhood obesity must move from paper to practice. A concerted public-health push that combines regulation, education, and community action to steer children toward healthier futures is vital to stem the crisis. Otherwise, India's demographic dividend stands to carry with it a long and costly health burden.
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Combating obesity among adolescents
There is an increased focus in public discourse on growing obesity among adolescents. The seventh edition of Poshan Pakhwada, held last month, focused on childhood and adolescent obesity alongside the first 1,000 days of life. The 'Let's Fix Our Food' consortium, a multi-stakeholder initiative spearheaded by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition, the Public Health Foundation of India, UNICEF-India, and others, recently released a set of policy briefs advocating for the need to better the food environments for adolescents. Last month, in a move to improve transparency on food labels, the Supreme Court gave the Central government a strict three-month window to finalise and enforce transparent food labelling regulations. These measures point towards growing concern about the problem. Nutrition paradox Adolescence is a period of rapid growth and transformation that lays the foundation for future health and well-being. Yet, in India, this crucial stage is being compromised not only by the problem of under nutrition but also by an emerging epidemic of obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases. Ironically, we now live in an era where reaching for a highly processed packaged food item is more convenient than choosing healthier alternatives. Poor nutrition, driven by the aggressive marketing and widespread availability of ultra-processed foods, is pushing our youth towards a lifetime burden of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. This is threatening their well-being and also the nation's long-term productivity and growth. India has, for a while, been facing a nutrition paradox where under nutrition and obesity coexist. While malnutrition persists among children, obesity and diet-related diseases are surging at an alarming rate. As per the World Obesity Atlas 2024, India has one of the steepest annual increases in childhood obesity globally. The Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey indicates that on average, over 5% of adolescents in India and as many as 10-15% in about 10 States are either overweight or obese. For a country with a fifth of its population being adolescents, this is deeply concerning. Adolescents are among the most vulnerable yet least empowered. In an apparently liberal food environment, their food choices appear to be many, but healthier options are not easy to find. Food choices are shaped by schools, social media, peer influence, and aggressive marketing. As highly processed foods, sugary drinks, and high sodium foods become dietary staples, obesity rates among teenagers continue to climb at an alarming pace. Nutrition, however, is not just a health issue — it directly impacts education, mental well-being, and future productivity. Poor nutrition is linked to decreased concentration, lower academic performance, and higher absenteeism, limiting students' potential. In our current food systems frameworks, a shift in power towards children (or those who uphold children's rights) is imminent to achieve healthy and equitable food systems that prioritise children's well-being. Government policies such as making nutrition a 'Jan Andolan (people's movement)', and school health and wellness programmes, will create greater awareness on nutrition. Dealing with the crisis What we essentially need is a two-pronged approach: strong regulatory policies that prioritise adolescent health and active youth engagement. How can policies ensure that healthy foods become accessible, affordable, and most importantly, aspirational in our diverse food environments? Fiscal measures such as a health tax on high fat, salt, and sugar, and subsidies for nutrient-rich foods, have proven to be somewhat effective in discouraging consumption of sugar sweetened beverages in other countries. We must implement front-of-pack nutrition labels to enable informed consumer choices, alongside stricter regulations to curb misleading advertisements targeting children, particularly on digital platforms and in schools. Schools too play a critical role in shaping children's food environments. Nutrition education in schools and communities can empower the youth to make informed food choices, and take up physical activity. However, the problem is not only about a lack of awareness or bad food choices. There is a need to enhance food literacy as an essential life skill that can equip adolescents to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy food, whether they are bought from outside or prepared at home; help them choose diverse diets from what is locally grown; and to be able to read and decipher the information on food labels. We also need inter-ministerial coordination. Nutrition falls under multiple ministries — Women and Child Development, Health, Agriculture, Industry, Consumer Affairs, and Education — and each is working on different aspects. However, without convergence in discourse and action, efforts remain fragmented. Initiatives such as Poshan Abhiyaan provide a framework for collaboration, but a united front from multiple sectors can advocate for stronger regulatory frameworks. It is time to acknowledge that a healthier India demands more than awareness — it requires healthy eating plates, playgrounds, policy action, youth leadership, and a major shift in our food environments. When we prioritise healthy beginnings, we will pave the way for a hopeful future.
