Sugar-Coated: The Schoolyard Revolution

Sweets are liked by everyone, every time…at all times. Sugar makes our food delicious. But have we ever thought, how much sugar is actually safe for us?

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), children and teenagers should not have more than 6 tsps. of added sugar per day, which is around 25gms or 100 calories. Now what is added sugar?

According to Health Organisations, there are two main types of sugar to be considered in our daily diet:

Natural sugars: Fructose found in fruits & vegetables & lactose found in milk. These foods contain many beneficial nutrients which are generally a part of a balanced diet.

Added sugars: Sucrose & high fructose corn syrup found in high quantities in processed foods like candy, soft drinks & pastries.

Childhood obesity is now a growing concern in India, with a significant increase in the number of obese children. According to a study The Lancet reported that in 2022, 12.5 million children between the age group of 5-19 in India were overweight or obese, which showed a huge rise from 0.4 million in 1990.  Childhood obesity is prevalent and the reasons are:

Lifestyle - Children of parents who may not always be aware of the nutritional needs of children or the health risks associated with excessive weight gain, due to socio-economic factors.

Dietary habits - Increased consumption of processed foods, sugary drinks, and fast food, often at the expense of nutritious home-cooked meals.

Physical Activity -- Reduced physical activity due to increased screen time, limited access to safe outdoor spaces, and a decline in physical education in schools are the main contributory factors.

Obesity in children increases the risk of developing heart problems, which may contribute to the development of cardiovascular risk factors or lead to heart disease in adulthood.

Childhood obesity is also linked to several risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. Obesity can disrupt the balance of hormones like leptin and adiponectin, which play a role in regulating appetite, metabolism, and inflammation.

This growing concern led to the "Eat Right India" movement, launched by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). This is a large-scale initiative to transform India's food system and promote safe, healthy, and sustainable food for all citizens. The tagline 'Sahi Bhojan. Behtar Jeevan', thus, forms the foundation of this movement. It focuses on three key themes: Eat Safe, Eat Healthy, and Eat Sustainable. 

Eat Safe: It aims to improve food safety standards combating adulteration, reducing toxins and contaminants, and ensuring hygienic practices.

Eat healthy: It encourages a balanced diet, reduces the consumption of salt, sugar, and saturated fats.

Eat sustainable: It promotes local and seasonal foods, reduces food waste, conserves water, and encourages the use of safe and sustainable packaging. 

The Eat Right India logo represents a balanced "Indian thali" (plate) emphasizing the consumption of all food groups in the right proportions for optimal health.

At schools we can be the change makers.  In my school we have started this initiative by introducing children to the right food, at the right time & in the right quantity.

Skip the Sugary Note

Children should be encouraged to distribute peanut chikki bars instead of chocolates & cookies or cakes on their birthdays. Fruits and dry fruits are slowly replacing the junk food packs, encouraging homemade meals over packed foods, choosing any two types of games is a must and parents are asked to monitor the kids health charts regularly.

Let’s educate all to be smart eaters and work towards building a healthier Young India.