After 'Sugar Boards', CBSE Rolls Out 'Oil Boards' In Schools To Tackle Obesity
The CBSE, in a circular dated July 15, has asked schools to display Oil Boards in common areas such as cafeterias, hallways, and staff rooms. These digital or printed boards will serve as visual reminders to avoid excessive consumption of unhealthy oils, particularly those found in fried and processed foods. Schools have also been encouraged to incorporate health messages on official stationery and to promote nutritious meals and physical activity during the school day.
Citing alarming trends in obesity, the board referred to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), which found that more than 20 per cent of adults in urban India are either overweight or obese. A study published in The Lancet's Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 forecast further reveals that the number of obese and overweight adults in India could rise from 18 crore in 2021 to nearly 45 crore by 2050-placing India among the top countries grappling with obesity-related health issues.
Poor diet and sedentary lifestyle continue to be the primary contributors to childhood obesity, the CBSE noted. To counter this, schools have been urged to adopt healthier food practices such as offering more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat alternatives, while limiting access to sugary beverages and high-fat snacks. Simple measures like encouraging stair use, short exercise sessions, and designated walking areas have also been recommended to boost daily physical activity.
This directive follows CBSE's earlier initiative on May 14 that introduced 'Sugar Boards' in schools to monitor and reduce sugar intake among children. That circular highlighted the rising incidence of Type 2 diabetes in children-a condition traditionally seen in adults-linked to the easy availability of sugar-laden foods in schools. Data cited then showed that children aged 4 to 18 years consume nearly three times the recommended daily sugar limit, contributing to long-term health risks including obesity and metabolic disorders.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
7 hours ago
- The Hindu
Breastfeeding week observed with awareness programmes
Public and private healthcare providers in Tiruchi have been observing World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) from August 1 to 7, with a host of awareness programmes. The theme of this year's WBW, an initiative of the World Health Organisation and UNICEF, is 'Prioritise breastfeeding: create sustainable support systems'. 'Mother's milk plays an important role in improving an infant's immunity and developmental milestones. Despite this, a large number of women are reluctant to breastfeed their children due to social pressure. We are counselling young lactating mothers to prefer breast milk over formula for their infants,' S. Padmapriya, paediatrician at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital (MGMGH) told The Hindu. Rising awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding have also led to a rise in the number of donors of mother's milk at the MGMGH breast milk bank, she said. 'This year, we have recorded 192 litres of milk from 639 donors that has benefited 634 children up to July. In 2024, the bank received 288 litres of breast milk from 727 donors, that benefited 776 children. With the creation of segregated spaces for feeding mothers in public areas, and the government campaigns, breastfeeding must become a common choice,' said Dr. Padmapriya. MGMGH observed the week with a rally, and special programmes for antenatal mothers. A workshop on breastfeeding and well-baby competition were also organised. 'According to data from the National Family Health Survey 5, only 41.8% of women initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, and approximately 53% of mothers are giving exclusive breastfeeding for six months. We have held several events this week with the aim of improving these rates,' said K. Senthil Kumar, neonatologist, Maa Kauvery Hospital. Besides counselling in-patient antenatal mothers, the hospital organised orientation sessions for anganwadi workers this week. 'Breastfeeding can be beneficial to mothers. It aids in postpartum weight loss, protects against certain cancers, and promotes a special bond with the baby,' said Dr. Senthil Kumar.
Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Indian Express
Can low back pain be an easy fix? Lancet study finds a long-term therapy that gets you moving
Injury, strain, overwork, stress and fatigue led to crippling low back pain for Susan (name changed). 'Life was on hold' for Ann (name changed), who admits that her mindset 'My back is damaged and needs fixing, but there are no answers' led to a loss of confidence. These are some of the views from patients who were part of the RESTORE trial where they describe their journey and how cognitive functional therapy (CFT) helped them gain control over their bodies, pain and face other fears. The latest study, published in 'The Lancet Rheumatology,' is significant because it establishes long-term effects of this therapy on people living with back pain. A previous study published in The Lancet found that CFT was more effective than usual care in improving physical activity among individuals with low back pain for up to a year. The current trial is the first to show that these effects can hold up to three years. It focusses on helping individuals understand their pain experience, modify unhelpful beliefs and behaviour, eliminate the fear that movement is damaging the back further and develop strategies to manage their pain and improve function. 'CFT is a type of psychotherapy and findings of the trial show that long-term benefits can be achieved by self-management skills, pain control strategies and confidence to engage in valued activities apart from adopting a healthier lifestyle,' Prof Mark Hancock from the Spinal Pain Research Centre, Department of Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, said. Dr Anand Gangwal, associate professor, Sancheti College of Physiotherapy, Pune, says self-management skills are extremely important in case of gradual onset pain, especially low back pain and neck pain. 'This kind of pain develops with micro trauma of the tissue due to our lifestyle and lack of correct posture and exercises. Medically we can't restore the damaged tissues to their original condition, especially as we get older. But we can control and reduce the microtrauma by lifestyle modification. This will help in reducing the rate of degeneration,' he says. A key component is awareness of what exactly triggers/worsens their pain. That knowledge alone will help patients refrain/modify the activities. 'Along with this a physiotherapist should help in strengthening the supporting structures, so that patients can perform their activities of daily living pain-free. Mental stress, busy schedules, poor nutrition and poor body composition can further worsen chronic pain. All these factors need to be addressed,' Dr Gangwal argues. Dr Mayur Kardile, consulting spine surgeon, Jehangir Hospital, Pune, has seen patients with low back pain, who are afraid of any movement that causes pain or aggravates it. That kind of fear leads to inactivity and can worsen the pain worse over time. 'The patient gets into a negative feedback loop and this creates a cycle that's hard to break. With CFT, patients are progressively challenged to undergo better exercises, slowly and safely guided to move again and face the things they've been avoiding,' he adds. This included 492 patients with chronic low back pain in Australia, who were randomly assigned to receive eight treatment sessions of usual care, CFT, or CFT plus biofeedback (a technique using sensors to measure body functions such as heart rate and enable the patient to modify them). Those who received CFT and CFT plus biofeedback saw improvements in their physical activity participation over usual care. Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More
Hans India
18 hours ago
- Hans India
Expectant fathers take pledge to support breastfeeding
Visakhapatnam: In a novel initiative, expectant fathers encouraged their pregnant spouses to take an oath in support of breastfeeding at an awareness programme organised as part of the 'World Breastfeeding Week' celebrations. During the event, medical experts emphasised the importance of breastfeeding and maternal nutrition, highlighting the fact that only 68 percent of mothers in Visakhapatnam currently practice exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, according to the latest NFHS-5 report. They stressed that this percentage can be significantly improved by educating mothers during pregnancy on effective breastfeeding techniques. The programme witnessed participation of 30 pregnant women and their families. As part of the novel approach, the fathers were seen taking a pledge to encourage and support exclusive breastfeeding for the newborns. The initiative aimed at reinforcing the role of family members in ensuring optimal infant feeding practices. Organised by GITAM Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (GIMSR), the event was held in collaboration with the institution's women empowerment cell and departments of community medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology. A key highlight of the programme was a live demonstration using mannequins to showcase appropriate breastfeeding techniques. The event was attended by GIMSR Pro Vice-Chancellor B Geetanjali, dean SP Rao, and women empowerment cell chairperson V Bodhi Srividya, among others.
