Health and Me

Ishita Srivastava

Cutting Out Junk Food From School Lunches Can Reduce Intake By 1,000 Calories, Study Shows

Simple changes to school lunches may help reduce junk food intake by at least 1,000 calories in children each day, a study shows. 

Researchers from the <span>Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education</span> and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, have discovered that reducing consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) that are rich in salt and sugar among adolescents can prevent future lifestyle diseases. 

Ultra-processed foods are defined in four categories, ranging from least to most processed: 

<ul><li>Unprocessed or minimally processed foods like fruit, vegetables, milk or fish.</li><li>Processed culinary ingredients like salt, sugar, olive oil and butter.</li><li>Processed foods, such as jam, pickles or canned fruit.</li><li>Ultra-processed foods, like energy drinks, sodas, sugary cereals, packaged chips, cookies and instant noodles</li></ul>High intake of UPFs, including fast foods and sugary drinks, is a known factor for increasing the risk of developing chronic health issues such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity and cancers in <span>teenagers</span> and adults.

In this study, the scientists conducted a controlled trial across 12 government schools in Chandigarh, focusing on students of Class 8 and their parents. Over a six-month period, adolescents attended 11 structured sessions on nutrition awareness, food choices and behavior change and parents were given one focused educational session to encourage healthier food environments at home.

Additionally, the researchers also assessed dietary patterns in children using two non-consecutive 24-hour food recalls at the beginning and end of the intervention.

The scientists found that students who completed the six month program were consuming over 1,000 calories merely from junk food such as packaged snacks, sugary beverages and fast food and only 270 calories from other processed foods, signaling a broader shift away from unhealthy diets.

They noted: "This suggests that reducing unhealthy consumption is easier than building healthy eating habits, and both require different strategies."

<h2>Does Parental Involvement Make Any Difference?</h2>

Researchers also found that despite parental intervention, eating patterns showed little change, highlighting the role schools can play as frontline institutions in preventing lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

“Low-cost, scalable education and behavior-change strategies in schools could have a long-term impact on public health,” the team said, adding that such programs are particularly relevant in countries where healthcare systems face increasing pressure from non-communicable diseases.

Moreover, the study showed that students did not significantly increase fruit or home-cooked food intake even when junk food consumption fell, indicating that cutting unhealthy food is easier than building healthy habits.

Apart from being linked to higher risks of obesity, <span>Type 2 diabetes</span> and heart issues, UPFs have also been found to worsen cognitive function, attention issues, <span>anxiety</span> and depression in children as additives and inflammation may disrupt brain pathways.

Furthermore, additives, emulsifiers, and nanoparticles and low fiber content can disrupt the gut microbiome, affecting digestion and immunity as well as overall growth.

UPFs also reduce satiety, because industrial processing alters their structure, making them softer and easier to eat and digest. This leads to a faster rate of consumption, which can override natural fullness signals and cause people to overeat. 

The scientists concluded that schools could become frontline institutions for preventing future lifestyle diseases, using low-cost education and behaviour strategies, the team said.

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Simple changes to school lunches may help reduce junk food intake by at least 1,000 calories in children each day, a study shows. Researchers from the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, have discovered that reducing consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) that are rich in salt and sugar among adolescents can prevent future lifestyle diseases. Ultra-processed foods are defined in four categories, ranging from least to most processed: Unprocessed or minimally processed foods like fruit, vegetables, milk or fish.Processed culinary ingredients like salt, sugar, olive oil and butter.Processed foods, such as jam, pickles or canned fruit.Ultra-processed foods, like energy drinks, sodas, sugary cereals, packaged chips, cookies and instant noodlesHigh intake of UPFs, including fast foods and sugary drinks, is a known factor for increasing the risk of developing chronic health issues such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity and cancers in teenagers and adults.What Did The Research Find?In this study, the scientists conducted a controlled trial across 12 government schools in Chandigarh, focusing on students of Class 8 and their parents. Over a six-month period, adolescents attended 11 structured sessions on nutrition awareness, food choices and behavior change and parents were given one focused educational session to encourage healthier food environments at home.Additionally, the researchers also assessed dietary patterns in children using two non-consecutive 24-hour food recalls at the beginning and end of the intervention.The scientists found that students who completed the six month program were consuming over 1,000 calories merely from junk food such as packaged snacks, sugary beverages and fast food and only 270 calories from other processed foods, signaling a broader shift away from unhealthy diets.They noted: "This suggests that reducing unhealthy consumption is easier than building healthy eating habits, and both require different strategies."Does Parental Involvement Make Any Difference?Researchers also found that despite parental intervention, eating patterns showed little change, highlighting the role schools can play as frontline institutions in preventing lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity.“Low-cost, scalable education and behavior-change strategies in schools could have a long-term impact on public health,” the team said, adding that such programs are particularly relevant in countries where healthcare systems face increasing pressure from non-communicable diseases.Moreover, the study showed that students did not significantly increase fruit or home-cooked food intake even when junk food consumption fell, indicating that cutting unhealthy food is easier than building healthy habits.Why Are UPFs Bad For You?Apart from being linked to higher risks of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart issues, UPFs have also been found to worsen cognitive function, attention issues, anxiety and depression in children as additives and inflammation may disrupt brain pathways.Furthermore, additives, emulsifiers, and nanoparticles and low fiber content can disrupt the gut microbiome, affecting digestion and immunity as well as overall growth.UPFs also reduce satiety, because industrial processing alters their structure, making them softer and easier to eat and digest. This leads to a faster rate of consumption, which can override natural fullness signals and cause people to overeat. The scientists concluded that schools could become frontline institutions for preventing future lifestyle diseases, using low-cost education and behaviour strategies, the team said.