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Rachel V Thomas

'Let's Fix Our Food': India Launches New Policy To Fight Childhood Obesity, Boost Nutrition

The Indian Council of Medical Research–National Institute of <span>Nutrition</span> (ICMR-NIN) has launched a new policy document aimed at tackling <span>childhood obesity</span> and promoting healthier diets and food environments for children and adolescents in India.

Released under the multi-institutional 'Let's Fix Our Food' (LFOF) consortium, which was launched in 2022, the policy comes as India faces a growing burden of <span>obesity</span> and diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, hypertension, cancer and respiratory illnesses.

The document outlines evidence-based recommendations to improve food environments and encourage healthier dietary habits among children and adolescents.

"Evidence-based, multisectoral policy action is essential to create healthier food environments for children and adolescents. Collaborative initiatives such as the Let's Fix Our Food Consortium are important for addressing the growing burden of overweight, obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases in India," said Dr. M. Srinivas, Member (Health), NITI Aayog.

The policy outlines recommendations across several areas, including:

<ul><li><span rel="noindex">Healthy school food environments</span></li><li>Nutrition literacy</li><li>Front-of-pack nutrition labelling</li><li>Regulation of unhealthy food marketing to children</li><li>Taxation of foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS)</li><li>Healthier dietary fats</li><li>Salt reduction</li><li>Low-sodium salt substitutes</li><li>Social and behavior change communication</li><li>Youth engagement</li><li>Fiscal measures to promote healthier diets.</li></ul>

<h2>India's Growing Obesity, Malnutrition Burden</h2>

The policy highlights India's growing double burden of malnutrition.

According to the National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6) fact sheets for 2023–24, the prevalence of overweight children under five has increased to 3.4%, up from 2.1% in NFHS-4 and 1.3% in the previous survey.  

The survey also found that although stunting among children under five has declined to 29.3%, acute malnutrition (wasting) remains unchanged at 5.2%, and only 15% of young children receive an adequate diet.

"Malnutrition is no longer only about undernutrition. Rising obesity, driven by unhealthy diets, challenges healthy growth among children and adolescents," said Marie-Claude Desilets, Chief of Nutrition, UNICEF India.

The Let's Fix Our Food Consortium was established to generate evidence and drive policy action for healthier food environments, particularly for children and adolescents. Based on multidisciplinary research and expert consultations, the policy recommends:

<ul><li>Enforce legal restrictions on marketing HFSS foods to children and adolescents.</li><li>Ban misleading health claims and deceptive advertising across all media.</li></ul>

<ul><li>Introduce mandatory, easy-to-read nutrition labels on packaged foods.</li><li>Help consumers quickly identify products high in fat, salt and sugar.</li></ul>

<h4>Healthier School Food Environments</h4>

<ul><li>Restrict junk food in and around schools.</li><li>Ensure affordable, healthy food options and monitor school food environments using NEAT-S.</li></ul>

<ul><li>Levy taxes on HFSS foods and sugar-sweetened beverages to discourage consumption.</li><li>Use fiscal measures to make healthier foods more affordable.</li></ul>

<ul><li>Integrate these measures into initiatives such as the Ayushman Bharat School Health and Wellness Programme to promote better nutrition and physical activity.</li></ul>

<h2>New Tools to Support Healthy Eating</h2>

The consortium also launched practical tools to help schools and adolescents make healthier food choices.

<ul><li>Nutrition Environment Assessment Toolkit for Schools (NEAT-S): A framework to help schools assess and improve their food environments by promoting healthier canteens.</li><li>Digital Literacy Modules: An interactive e-learning platform and comic books developed by ICMR-NIN to help adolescents understand food labels and reduce their intake of excess sodium and unhealthy fats.</li></ul>

The initiative is supported by several national and international organizations, including UNICEF India, the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), and other partners.

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The Indian Council of Medical Research–National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) has launched a new policy document aimed at tackling childhood obesity and promoting healthier diets and food environments for children and adolescents in India.Released under the multi-institutional 'Let's Fix Our Food' (LFOF) consortium, which was launched in 2022, the policy comes as India faces a growing burden of obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, hypertension, cancer and respiratory illnesses.The document outlines evidence-based recommendations to improve food environments and encourage healthier dietary habits among children and adolescents."Evidence-based, multisectoral policy action is essential to create healthier food environments for children and adolescents. Collaborative initiatives such as the Let's Fix Our Food Consortium are important for addressing the growing burden of overweight, obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases in India," said Dr. M. Srinivas, Member (Health), NITI Aayog.What Does The Policy Recommend?The policy outlines recommendations across several areas, including:Healthy school food environmentsNutrition literacyFront-of-pack nutrition labellingRegulation of unhealthy food marketing to childrenTaxation of foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS)Healthier dietary fatsSalt reductionLow-sodium salt substitutesSocial and behavior change communicationYouth engagementFiscal measures to promote healthier diets.India's Growing Obesity, Malnutrition BurdenThe policy highlights India's growing double burden of malnutrition.According to the National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6) fact sheets for 2023–24, the prevalence of overweight children under five has increased to 3.4%, up from 2.1% in NFHS-4 and 1.3% in the previous survey.  The survey also found that although stunting among children under five has declined to 29.3%, acute malnutrition (wasting) remains unchanged at 5.2%, and only 15% of young children receive an adequate diet."Malnutrition is no longer only about undernutrition. Rising obesity, driven by unhealthy diets, challenges healthy growth among children and adolescents," said Marie-Claude Desilets, Chief of Nutrition, UNICEF India.     Key RecommendationsThe Let's Fix Our Food Consortium was established to generate evidence and drive policy action for healthier food environments, particularly for children and adolescents. Based on multidisciplinary research and expert consultations, the policy recommends:Stricter Advertising RulesEnforce legal restrictions on marketing HFSS foods to children and adolescents.Ban misleading health claims and deceptive advertising across all media.Front-of-Pack Nutrition LabelsIntroduce mandatory, easy-to-read nutrition labels on packaged foods.Help consumers quickly identify products high in fat, salt and sugar.Healthier School Food EnvironmentsRestrict junk food in and around schools.Ensure affordable, healthy food options and monitor school food environments using NEAT-S.Tax Junk FoodLevy taxes on HFSS foods and sugar-sweetened beverages to discourage consumption.Use fiscal measures to make healthier foods more affordable.Strengthen National ProgramsIntegrate these measures into initiatives such as the Ayushman Bharat School Health and Wellness Programme to promote better nutrition and physical activity.New Tools to Support Healthy EatingThe consortium also launched practical tools to help schools and adolescents make healthier food choices.Nutrition Environment Assessment Toolkit for Schools (NEAT-S): A framework to help schools assess and improve their food environments by promoting healthier canteens.Digital Literacy Modules: An interactive e-learning platform and comic books developed by ICMR-NIN to help adolescents understand food labels and reduce their intake of excess sodium and unhealthy fats.The initiative is supported by several national and international organizations, including UNICEF India, the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), and other partners.

'let's fix our food': india launches new policy to fight childhood obesity, boost nutrition

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