HEALTHY HABITS BEGIN IN SCHOOL: COMBATING OBESITY WITH AWARENESS AND ACTION

Health workers endorse the Sugar Board initiative as a welcome intervention in the fight against obesity and metabolic disorders. Promoting sugar literacy can, therefore, aid in the formation of healthier eating habits in children from a young age, enabling them to make healthy food choices in and out of the school. The promotion of awareness activities among schools would also spur change at the community level, as students often share their knowledge with their families and communities.

- DR ALKA KAPUR

In a country with over 250 million school-age children, early interventions in developing healthy habits are crucial in shaping the destiny of the nation.

Recognizing this, the directive from Central Board of Secondary Examination (CBSE) for all schools to keep duly maintained 'Sugar Boards' on their premises is a significant step in the fight against childhood obesity.

With metabolic disorders and Type 2 diabetes taking stronger grips on the younger generation, this initiative goes a step further to put the emphasis on sugar reduction and eating awareness.

While childhood obesity is emerging as one of the major public health problems today in India, children are now consuming far more sugar than allowed by international health bodies, thereby making intervention at the school level an absolute must.