Latest news with #OilBoard
India Today
17-07-2025
- Health
- India Today
After sugar boards, CBSE pushes oil boards to cut fat intake in schools
CBSE pushes new visual campaign of oil boards in schools to curb unhealthy oil usage India Today Education Desk CBSE launches 'Oil Boards' to discourage unhealthy fat consumption in schools Initiative follows 'Sugar Boards' to promote better health habits Boards to be placed in cafeterias, hallways, and staff areas After the introduction of 'Sugar Boards' last year, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has taken another step to promote healthy living in schools. In a fresh circular issued to affiliated schools, the Board has announced the rollout of 'Oil Boards'â€'a visual awareness campaign aimed at discouraging excessive consumption of unhealthy fats and oils. The move comes amid alarming data on rising obesity rates in India, particularly amongst urban children and adolescents. Drawing from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–21), CBSE highlights that more than 20% of adults in urban areas are either overweight or obese. A Lancet study from 2025 further warns that by 2050, the number of overweight adults in India may jump from 18 crore in 2021 to nearly 45 crore, placing the country second globally in obesity prevalence. WHAT ARE OIL BOARDS? As per the CBSE directive, 'Oil Boards' are to be installed in visible areas within school campusesâ€'such as cafeterias, hallways, and staff lounges. These can be either printed posters or digital screens, featuring facts and warnings about the health hazards of consuming high-fat and oil-rich foods. The idea is to encourage students and staff to make more mindful food choices. WHY THE INITIATIVE MATTERS? This initiative builds on the earlier 'Sugar Boards' campaign that sought to reduce sugar consumption in school environments. With obesity becoming a national concern, especially in younger age groups, CBSE believes schools have a vital role to play in promoting preventive health behaviours. Poor eating habits, sedentary lifestyles, and a lack of awareness about nutrition are contributing factors that the Board hopes to address through such targeted interventions. Direct link to check the official circular WHAT SCHOOLS ARE EXPECTED TO DO To bring the Oil Board initiative to life, CBSE has laid out a multipronged approach for schools: Install Visual Displays: Put up clear, eye-catching posters or digital messages in areas frequented by students and staff. Health-Focused Stationery: Add health tips and reminders to school stationery letterheads, notebooks, foldersto reinforce the message beyond just the display boards. Healthy Food and Activity Push: Encourage canteens to stock healthier meal options while limiting the sale of fried snacks and sugary drinks. Promote physical movement through activity breaks, use of stairs, and walk-friendly zones on campus. Student Engagement: Integrate the creation of Oil Board content into class projects. This could involve students conducting their own research, creating visuals, and writing health-based messages to deepen understanding and involvement. Schools have also been advised to make use of educational materials developed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Videos, posters, and guidelines are available through FSSAI's social media and YouTube channels. By involving students, staff, and the larger school ecosystem, CBSE hopes to foster lifelong habits that prioritise nutrition and wellness. The Oil Board campaign, much like its predecessor, is not just about awareness, it's about creating an environment that supports healthier daily choices. After the introduction of 'Sugar Boards' last year, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has taken another step to promote healthy living in schools. In a fresh circular issued to affiliated schools, the Board has announced the rollout of 'Oil Boards'â€'a visual awareness campaign aimed at discouraging excessive consumption of unhealthy fats and oils. The move comes amid alarming data on rising obesity rates in India, particularly amongst urban children and adolescents. Drawing from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–21), CBSE highlights that more than 20% of adults in urban areas are either overweight or obese. A Lancet study from 2025 further warns that by 2050, the number of overweight adults in India may jump from 18 crore in 2021 to nearly 45 crore, placing the country second globally in obesity prevalence. WHAT ARE OIL BOARDS? As per the CBSE directive, 'Oil Boards' are to be installed in visible areas within school campusesâ€'such as cafeterias, hallways, and staff lounges. These can be either printed posters or digital screens, featuring facts and warnings about the health hazards of consuming high-fat and oil-rich foods. The idea is to encourage students and staff to make more mindful food choices. WHY THE INITIATIVE MATTERS? This initiative builds on the earlier 'Sugar Boards' campaign that sought to reduce sugar consumption in school environments. With obesity becoming a national concern, especially in younger age groups, CBSE believes schools have a vital role to play in promoting preventive health behaviours. Poor eating habits, sedentary lifestyles, and a lack of awareness about nutrition are contributing factors that the Board hopes to address through such targeted interventions. Direct link to check the official circular WHAT SCHOOLS ARE EXPECTED TO DO To bring the Oil Board initiative to life, CBSE has laid out a multipronged approach for schools: Install Visual Displays: Put up clear, eye-catching posters or digital messages in areas frequented by students and staff. Health-Focused Stationery: Add health tips and reminders to school stationery letterheads, notebooks, foldersto reinforce the message beyond just the display boards. Healthy Food and Activity Push: Encourage canteens to stock healthier meal options while limiting the sale of fried snacks and sugary drinks. Promote physical movement through activity breaks, use of stairs, and walk-friendly zones on campus. Student Engagement: Integrate the creation of Oil Board content into class projects. This could involve students conducting their own research, creating visuals, and writing health-based messages to deepen understanding and involvement. Schools have also been advised to make use of educational materials developed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Videos, posters, and guidelines are available through FSSAI's social media and YouTube channels. By involving students, staff, and the larger school ecosystem, CBSE hopes to foster lifelong habits that prioritise nutrition and wellness. The Oil Board campaign, much like its predecessor, is not just about awareness, it's about creating an environment that supports healthier daily choices. Join our WhatsApp Channel
Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
After sugar boards, CBSE introduces ‘Oil boards' in schools: What the new circular says
After urging schools to display 'Sugar Boards' as visual reminders to reduce sugar intake, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has expanded its awareness drive by recommending the introduction of 'Oil Boards' in affiliated institutions. Earlier, the Board announced the Sugar Boards initiative to curb the consumption of sugary foods among schoolchildren. Taking it a step further, a new directive issued today calls for similar visual cues to raise awareness about the excessive use of unhealthy fats and oils. CBSE mandates 'sugar boards' in schools to limit child diabetes According to the circular, 'Oil Boards' refer to posters or digital displays installed in shared spaces such as cafeterias, lobbies, and meeting rooms within school premises. These boards will aim to educate students and staff about the harmful effects of consuming high-fat foods and oils and to serve as daily reminders promoting healthier eating habits. The introduction of Oil Boards comes amid growing concerns about rising obesity levels in India, especially among children and adolescents. Data cited by CBSE from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–21) reveals that over one in five adults in urban areas are overweight or obese. Additionally, a Lancet study published in 2025 forecasts that the number of overweight and obese adults in India will rise from 18 crore in 2021 to nearly 45 crore by 2050, positioning the country as having the second-highest obesity burden globally. The CBSE notes that poor dietary habits, including excessive intake of unhealthy fats, coupled with reduced physical activity, are major contributors to this trend, especially in schools. The initiative is part of a broader effort to instill preventive health awareness and behavioural change among students from an early age. To implement the Oil Board initiative effectively, CBSE has directed affiliated schools to undertake the following: Install visual displays: Use either digital or printed posters in prominent school locations to caution against unhealthy fat consumption. Use of health messaging: Include health-related reminders on school stationery such as letterheads, notepads, and folders. Promote healthy eating and physical activity: Offer more nutritious food options in school cafeterias and limit availability of sugary drinks and high-fat snacks. Encourage use of stairs, organise brief activity breaks, and set up walk-friendly routes to enhance physical movement among students. The CBSE has also noted that an important aspect of the Oil Board initiative is its emphasis on active student participation. Schools are encouraged to incorporate the development of Oil Board content into classroom projects. This would involve students researching the effects of unhealthy oils, designing messages, and creating posters or digital content. In its notice, CBSE has pointed schools towards additional resources provided by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Posters, videos, and related material can be accessed via FSSAI's official YouTube channel, or on its social media handles.
The Print
14-07-2025
- Health
- The Print
Ministries, depts asked to display oil, sugar content in snacks like samosa, pizza
While the Oil Board mentioned snacks such as French fries, burgers, pizza, samosa, pakodas and vadapav, the Sugar Board included items such as soft drinks, gulab jamun and chocolate pastries. It has also called for printing health messages on all official stationery such as letterheads, envelopes, notepads, folders and publications to reinforce daily reminders on fighting obesity. New Delhi, Jul 14 (PTI) The Union health ministry has urged all ministries and departments to instal displays of boards mentioning the sugar and oil content in snacks such as samosa, kachori, pizza, burger, french fries, soft drinks, gulab jamun and vadapav to promote healthy lifestyles and combat obesity and non-communicable diseases. Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora, who chairs the Parliamentary Committee on Subordinate Legislation, on Monday pitched for treating and regulating food items such as pizzas, burgers and doughnuts at par with samosa, jalebis and vadapav for health risks. In the letter written on June 21, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said that India is witnessing a sharp rise in obesity among both adults and children. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 (2019-21), more than one in five adults in the urban areas are overweight or obese. The prevalence of childhood obesity is impacted by poor dietary habits and reduced physical activity. According to the Lancet Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 obesity forecasting study published in 2025, the number of overweight and obese adults in India is projected to rise from 18 crore in 2021 to 44.9 crore by 2050, making it a country with the second-highest global burden, she said. Obesity significantly raises the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and certain cancers. It also affects mental health, mobility and quality of life, and imposes a heavy economic burden through increased healthcare costs and productivity losses. Early prevention and health promotion are critical to reversing these trends. In the letter, Srivastava referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to combat obesity through lifestyle changes. 'At the opening ceremony of the 38th National Games in Dehradun on 28 January 2025, the prime minister invoked the Fit India Campaign and urged citizens to adopt active, healthy lifestyles as part of the broader vision of Swastha Bharat. In his Mann Ki Raat, he called for a 10 per cent reduction in oil consumption,' the letter said. In response to this national appeal and as part of the ministry's flagship initiatives under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), it is imperative to promote sustainable behavioural changes at our workplaces. These include reducing excessive consumption of oil and sugar, both of which are key contributors to increasing rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other lifestyle-related disorders, Srivastava stated. 'We are proposing display of Sugar and Oil Boards initiative to promote healthier dietary habits in various settings. These boards serve as visual behavioural nudges in schools, offices, public institutions etc displaying key information about hidden fats and sugars in everyday foods,' the letter stated. She requested all ministries to issue directions to all departments/ offices/ autonomous bodies and other public institutions/organisations to instal Oil and Sugar Board displays (digital static posters etc) in common areas (cafeterias, lobbies, meeting rooms and other public spaces) to raise awareness on harmful consumption. She asked them to print health messages on all official stationery (letterheads, envelopes, notepads, folders, etc) and publications to reinforce daily reminders on fighting obesity. 'Promote healthy meals and physical activity in offices through nutritious, healthier food options (more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat options, and by limiting availability of sugary drinks and high-fat snacks) and active workplace initiatives such encouraging use of stairs, organising short exercise breaks, and facilitating walking routes),' she said. 'These visual cues and practical tips are part of a larger national movement to reduce the burden of NCDs, and your ministry's leadership in this regard can serve as an inspiration for wider behavioural transformation across government systems… Together, let us lead the way in turning the honourable prime minister's vision of a Healthy India into a mass movement, starting right from our workplaces,' she said. The letter also had a few prototypes of the boards as enclosures which it said can be customised according to requirement. PTI PLB KSS KSS This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
