A national consortium, spearheaded by India’s leading medical body, is advocating for a health tax on foods rich in fat, sugar, and salt, along with stricter regulations on food advertising targeting children, reported India Today,
With adolescent obesity rates climbing in India, the group, led by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN), is calling for immediate measures to enhance the food environment for young people.
The national consultation recommended banning the sale of high-fat, high-sugar, and high-salt foods in school canteens and around educational institutions, aligning with guidelines from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
On March 28, policy briefs were unveiled addressing food advertisement regulations, potential taxes on unhealthy foods, and strategies to improve young people’s understanding of food labels. Additionally, a comic book was introduced to help students interpret food labels, alongside a model nutrition curriculum for schools.
“The surge in overweight and obesity among adolescents is a growing public health concern. If we don’t take action now, it will have long-term implications for both the nation’s health and economy,” warned Dr. VK Paul, Member of NITI Aayog, during the policy brief launch event.
Over the past two years, the ICMR-led Let’s Fix Our Food (LFOF) Consortium has concentrated on three primary objectives: educating youth on nutrition, shielding them from harmful food marketing, and fostering healthier food environments both at school and home.
Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary of the Department of Health Research and Director General of ICMR, emphasized that addressing adolescent health transcends a mere health issue—it’s a national priority. He highlighted the urgent need for tighter food marketing regulations, potential taxes on unhealthy foods, and enhanced food education initiatives.
These recommendations arise amid growing health concerns among Indian teenagers, with 24% of adolescents being underweight and over 17 million children and teens affected by obesity.
“If immediate action isn’t taken, this number could surge to 27 million by 2030,” the policy brief warns, reflecting India’s dual burden of undernutrition and obesity among its youth.
