Telangana: MR-NIN Moots Policy For Healthier Diets
Niti Aayog Member (Health) M. Srinivas said evidence based and multi sectoral policy action was essential to address the growing burden of overweight: Reports
HYDERABAD: A national consortium led by the Indian Council of Medical Research’s National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR‑NIN) has proposed a set of policy measures to make food environments healthier for children and adolescents, warning that rising obesity and poor diets are increasing the burden of non‑communicable diseases in India.
The recommendations were released on Wednesday in New Delhi through a policy document titled ‘Priority Policy Actions to Promote Healthier Diets and Food Environments for Children and Adolescents in India’.
Based on nearly three years of research, consultations and policy dialogues, the document calls for healthier school food environments, nutrition literacy, front‑of‑pack labelling, regulation of unhealthy food marketing aimed at children, taxation of foods high in fat, salt and sugar, healthier dietary fats, salt reduction, low‑sodium substitutes, behaviour change communication, youth engagement and fiscal measures to encourage healthier diets.
Niti Aayog Member (Health) M. Srinivas said evidence‑based and multi‑sectoral policy action was essential to address the growing burden of overweight, obesity and diet‑related diseases among children and adolescents.
ICMR‑NIN Director Bharati Kulkarni said the recommendations reflected collective efforts of researchers, policymakers, development partners and young people. Public Health Foundation of India founder president K. Srinath Reddy called for sustained interventions to address commercial, social and environmental factors influencing unhealthy diets.
The workshop also launched the ‘Let’s Fix Our Food’ website, the Nutrition Environment Assessment Toolkit for Schools (NEAT‑S) and its report, an e‑learning module on food labels, and ICMR‑NIN educational resources on fats, sugars and salt.
UNICEF India chief of Nutrition Marie Claude Desilets said, “Malnutrition is no longer only about undernutrition. Rising obesity, driven by unhealthy diets, challenges healthy growth among children and adolescents.” Resolve to Save Lives Executive Director Syed Imran Farooq added that reducing excess salt, fat and sugar intake alongside stronger food policies would help lower the burden of cardiovascular disease and other health threats.
