Introduction
As we are all aware, excessive fat is the storehouse of many diseases. In India the problem of overweight children is getting worse.
As reported by the World Obesity Atlas 2026, India has the world’s second-highest number of overweight or obese children, trailing only China; 41 million have a high BMI, and about 14 million are obese. India expects to cross over 27 million in 2030 among children as well as adolescents (5 to 19 years).
Numerous scientific studies have emphasized the correlation between children consuming foods high in fat, salt, and sugar and their increasing likelihood of acquiring high LDL and experiencing artery and blood vessel stiffness at a young age.
They are associated with following health-related risks-
Hormonal imbalance: a higher chance of early puberty and polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) in teenagers.
High blood pressure: excess sodium and added sugar are inexorably connected to early BP and other cardiometabolic illnesses.
Metabolic disorders
Type 2 diabetes: it is characterized by insulin insensitivity.
Fatty liver, also known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASL), occurs when excess fat accumulates in the liver.
Key drivers
Inadequate breastfeeding: may contribute to the decline of vital hormones, respectively, leptin and adiponectin, whereas good gut flora regulate food intake and energy utilization in the body.
High in fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) food: The shift from fruits, vegetables, and standard diets to ultra-processed foods, sweetened beverages, and fast foods, as well as junk foods crammed with zero calories has resulted in increased intake of HFSS over the RDA (recommendatory dietary allowance).
Desk-bound lifestyle: high screen time exacerbates the situation by reducing outdoor activity; about 74% of adolescents (11-17 years) fail to attain the recommended daily physical activity standard.
Food-susceptible: highly enticing advertising and targeted marketing strategies, such as vivid food appetite hues and decoy effects, convenience and affordability, etc., instantly arouse hunger.
Socioeconomic factors: children in private schools are more likely to be overweight than those in government schools.
Government- led measures
The Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) have spearheaded the “Let’s fix our food” initiative, which includes
Healthy school food settings, nutrition literacy, front-of-pack nutrition labeling, regulation of marketing of unhealthy food to children, taxation of foods rich in fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS), healthier dietary fats, salt reduction, low-sodium salt alternatives, social and behavioral change, etc.
FSSAI-led public campaign—the Eat Right India movement to reinvigorate traditional balanced meals.
Smart Moms and Social Media
A big thank-you to Mom’s, MasterChef, and social media platforms for coming up with healthy alternatives for fast-food items. They also inspire many to cook wholesome dishes in a contemporary manner so that kids don’t throw tantrums to skip home-based foods.
what are some ways you try to follow a healthy diet and lifestyle ?
Share your thoughts with us.
MBH/PS