How schools can tackle adolescent malnutrition, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• NFHS-6 (2023-24) data indicates a significant rise in obesity and high blood sugar among adults, with these trends now affecting rural populations.
• India faces a "double burden" of undernutrition and surging obesity, where the roots of associated non-communicable diseases often begin in adolescence.
• The Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS, 2019) reported that 27.4% of Indian adolescents are stunted, alongside a rise in obesity, particularly among urban youth.
• Schools are identified as critical settings for preventing adolescent malnutrition through improved dietary practices and increased physical activity.
• The Let’s Fix Our Food (LFOF) initiative, led by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN), aims to create healthier food environments for adolescents.

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Detailed Insights:

• Obesity among women aged 15-49 years increased from 24% to 30.7%, and among men from 22.9% to 27.3% as per NFHS-6 findings.
• High blood sugar among men aged 15 and above rose from 15.6% to 20.9%, and among women from 13.5% to 17.8% according to NFHS-6.
• The "thin-fat" phenotype describes children who appear lean but possess a dangerous metabolic risk, contributing to adult-onset diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
• Adolescents often consume cereal-heavy diets with inadequate proteins and protective foods, and lower than recommended intake of milk, dairy, green leafy vegetables, and fruits.
• The Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024 recommend that half the plate by volume should consist of fruits and vegetables to promote balanced eating.
• Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs) in India is surging at over 13.7% year-after-year, as highlighted by a World Health Organization study.
• Schools can implement measures such as healthier canteens, food demonstrations, school gardens, and fruit breaks to normalize better eating habits.
• Structured physical activity and sports should be integrated as core educational components to combat widespread physical inactivity among adolescents.
• The LFOF consortium advocates for regulating High Fat Sugar and Salt (HFSS) food advertising, taxation on unhealthy beverages, and a model school nutrition curriculum.
• A 2025 Lancet study projected that 21.8 crore men and 23.1 crore women in India will be overweight by 2050, with the steepest rise expected among adolescents.
• Schools should adopt skill-based nutrition education, teaching students to read food labels, understand portion sizes, and recognize marketing tactics.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Double Burden of Malnutrition: The coexistence of undernutrition (e.g., stunting) and overnutrition (e.g., obesity) within the same population or individual.
• Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): Chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension that are not transmitted from person to person.
• Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs): Industrial formulations made from ingredients derived from foods, often containing additives, high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats.
• Thin-Fat Phenotype: Individuals who appear lean but have a high percentage of body fat, leading to increased metabolic risk for chronic diseases.