Syllabus: 

GS2: Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Context: 

Recently, a new study by AIIMS raised concern over the growing rates of obesity and hypertension among schoolchildren.

More on the News

• According to the study, the prevalence of obesity was as high as 24.02% in private schools, more than five times the number for public schools.
• A study of 3,888 Delhi school students (aged 6–19) found 13.4% were obese and 9.2% had central obesity, a sharp rise from 5% in 2006.
• Obesity rates were significantly higher in private schools (24.02% general, 16.77% central) than in public schools (4.48% general, 1.83% central).
• At private schools students were twice as likely to have high blood sugar and three times as likely to have metabolic syndrome as compared to their other counterparts. 
• The presence of dyslipidemia (abnormal levels of fats in the blood) in children, at approximately 34%. 

Obesity

• Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese. 
• In 2019, an estimated 5 million noncommunicable disease (NCD) deaths were caused by higher-than-optimal BMI.
• Rates of overweight and obesity continue to grow in adults and children. From 1990 to 2022, the percentage of children and adolescents aged 5–19 years living with obesity increased four-fold from 2% to 8% globally, while the percentage of adults 18 years of age and older living with obesity more than doubled from 7% to 16%.
• Obesity, once seen as a high-income country issue, now surpasses underweight in all but the South-East Asia Region, with some middle-income nations showing the highest obesity rates globally.

Contributing Factors 

• The study links these health problems to multiple causes, including a rise in processed and sugary food intake, sedentary routines, and excessive screen time. 
• Importantly, poor dietary habits aren’t limited to wealthier students, those from lower-income families also rely on cheap, unhealthy snacks and have inactive lifestyles.

Recommendations

• Dietary Reforms: Enhancing the nutritional quality of meals provided in schools, particularly the mid-day meal scheme, by incorporating more proteins and fibers while reducing excessive carbohydrates.
• Physical Activity: Increasing daily physical activity quotas for students to ensure they engage in sufficient exercise.
• Parental Education: Raising awareness among parents about healthy dietary choices and the importance of balanced nutrition for their children.
• Screen Time Management: Implementing guidelines to reduce excessive screen time among children, promoting more active lifestyles.

Mains Practise Question:

Q. Rising obesity and related health issues among school children, especially in urban areas, reflect a growing public health challenge in India. Discuss the key findings of recent studies on childhood obesity and suggest comprehensive measures to address this concern.