Are advertising and easy access driving rising sugar consumption among Indian children?

The Central Board of Secondary Education, or CBSE, recently mandated the establishment of sugar boards at all its schools. These boards will tell children how much sugar there is in common snacks that they eat versus what the recommended sugar intake is. The move also aims to make school canteens healthier so that the food children have access to on a daily basis is healthy and low in sugar.

Why was this move necessary? Reports estimate that by 2030, one of every ten obese children the world over will be from India. India is staring at an obesity crisis among all segments of its population, but public health experts are increasingly worried about the youngest of them – children and adolescents. While diets high in ultra-processed food and lack of physical activity are said to be the main culprits, there is not enough talk about why our diet patterns are changing – relentless advertising and the cheap and easy availability of unhealthy food.

Do our advertising laws need to change to ensure such foods are not marketed to children? Do our food labelling laws need to be modified? Will less access help improve diet patterns?

Guest: Paediatrician and convenor of Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi)

Host: Zubeda Hamid Edited by Jude Francis Weston

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