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The Hindu
7 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Undernourished and overweight: Telangana youth face dual health burden of malnutrition
Youth in Telangana face a growing double burden of malnutrition, where underweight and overweight conditions coexist, alongside a rising risk of cardiovascular diseases. The finding was part of the seventh round of the Young Lives longitudinal study released on Friday (May 30, 2025). It also pointed at poor dietary diversity, gender disparities in health risks, and persistent rural-urban inequalities. The study, which has tracked two cohorts of children since 2002 when they were aged 1 (younger cohort) and 8 years (older cohort) respectively, also found poor dietary diversity among youth. It provides an overview of key nutrition, health and well-being indicators comparing the younger cohort at age 22 with the older cohort at the same age in 2016, alongside tracking the younger cohort's progress from age 12 to 22. The sample includes 948 participants from Telangana alone — 641 from the younger cohort and 307 from the older cohort, representing diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Many relied heavily on grains and carbohydrates while consuming fewer fruits, vegetables, and protein-rich foods. However, some improvement was seen, particularly among women from the young cohort. By 2023, 40% of 22-year-old women consumed more than five food groups daily, compared to just 18% in the older cohort at the same age in 2016. The improvement was higher among women (22.5%) than men (7.8%). Underweight prevalence According to Dr. P. Prudhvikar Reddy, one of the speakers at the launch event at the Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) in Hyderabad's Begumpet on Friday, underweight prevalence remains higher among participants from socially marginalised groups and rural areas, while obesity was more prevalent among wealthier and urban participants. 'At age 22, we saw more underweight participants among Scheduled Castes (SCs), rural youth, and those with mothers who had lower levels of education,' he said. The reasons Dr. Reddy attributed these trends to changing diets, high consumption of fatty foods, and reduced physical activity. Cardiovascular risk also rose - 22.7% of women were found to be at high risk, compared to just 8.5% of men. Women and Child Welfare Minister D. Anasuya Seethakka called the malnutrition levels in tribal and rural areas 'deeply concerning' and said these areas would be prioritised. 'As someone from a tribal background, I understand these challenges. Diets in rural areas are healthier than today's hybrid food consumption in cities. We need targeted, data-driven interventions,' she said. Well-being scores showed modest improvement, with the younger cohort rating their subjective well-being at 5.1 on a 1–9 scale, slightly higher than the older cohort's 4.9. Mental health indicators were mixed: 15% of the younger cohort reported symptoms of anxiety or depression, lower than the 21% (anxiety) and 17% (depression) among the older cohort. Stress levels remained high, with little progress - 68% among the younger cohort versus 71% in the older group. Dr. Reddy called for broader public health measures that go beyond food subsidies and address early-life nutritional inequalities. He stressed the need for ensuring access to healthy, diverse diets and promoting active lifestyles to counter emerging health risks.
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Telangana will support research initiatives: Minister Danasari Anasuya
HYDERABAD: Research and surveys play an important role in shaping government policies and welfare schemes, said Women and Child Welfare Minister Danasari Anasuya, also known as Seethakka. She was speaking after releasing the Young Lives Round-7 survey report at the Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) campus in Begumpet on Friday. The minister acknowledged CESS for conducting a comprehensive study on indicators such as education, health, nutrition, learning ability, work and family conditions. She stated that the findings from field-based surveys are useful in identifying gaps in existing policies and can contribute to policy formulation and revisions. Seethakka noted the government's focus on improving education, healthcare and nutrition, particularly for underprivileged and tribal communities. Recalling her own childhood, she said she was familiar with the experience of hunger as a tribal child and added that efforts are being made to address nutritional deficiencies among school children in tribal regions. She said government hostels and schools are being upgraded with improved facilities and meals. The minister described malnutrition as a major barrier to development in tribal areas and referred to the government's initiative of distributing nutrient-rich chikkis to help girls tackle anaemia. Seethakka underlined the role of evidence-based surveys in highlighting public issues, developmental needs, and gaps in governance. She said the Congress government in Telangana would support such research initiatives. Others present at the event included Economic and Political Weekly editor and ICFAI School of Social Sciences professor S Mahendra Dev, CESS director and Young Lives India principal investigator E Revathi, NHM representative Dr Padmaja and Young Lives India country director Renu Singh.
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
16% of young women in Telangana married before 18: Survey
HYDERABAD: Early marriage and motherhood continue to pose serious challenges in Telangana, with 16% of women from the Younger Cohort (YC) (born in 2001-02) married before the legal age of 18 and 22% becoming mothers by age 19. These findings are part of the preliminary results from the 'Young Lives Round 7 Survey (2023-24)', unveiled on Friday by Women and Child Welfare Minister Dansari Anasuya, alias Seethakka, at the Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) in Hyderabad. The survey, which began in 2002, tracks 12,000 children in Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam to examine long-term trends in child poverty. In India, it focuses on the undivided Andhra Pradesh, covering 20 mandals — 13 in Andhra Pradesh and 7 in Telangana. The Telangana districts included in the latest round are Karimnagar, Bhupalpally, Nagarkurnool, Mahbubnagar, Jogulamba Gadwal and Hyderabad, with 948 participants across 33 villages. As of the 2023-24 round, the Younger Cohort participants are now 22-years-old, while members of the Older Cohort — who were eight years old at the start of the study — are now 29.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Youth in Telangana delay workforce entry, but inequality still shapes their future
Hyderabad: In a close look at the aspirations and struggles of Telangana's youth, the preliminary findings of the seventh round of the Young Lives longitudinal survey, released on Friday, present a mixed picture. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While more young people are delaying entry into the workforce in favour of extended education, many still face entrenched structural inequalities, job dissatisfaction, and mental health challenges. The survey 'Longitudinal Study of Poverty and Inequality,' conducted by the Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS), offers critical insight into the transition from education to employment in 2023–24. A growing number of youngsters are entering the labour market at a later age than previous generations, with a majority of 29-year-olds now participating in the workforce, the survey said. However, the nature of this employment remains a concern—long hours, lack of quality jobs, and low job satisfaction dominate their experience. The survey also records a significant shift from agricultural to non-agricultural work in both rural and urban areas, a trend seen among both men and women. Women ahead, gaps persist On the other hand, Telangana outperforms the national average in female labour force participation among youth aged 15–29, with 44.7% in 2021–22 compared to 32.8% nationally. However, gender gaps in employment persist, and early-life disadvantages—such as child marriage, early motherhood, caste/tribe identity, and family income levels—remain strong predictors of outcomes in education and employment. These factors impact not only access to quality jobs but also reading comprehension, university enrolment, and general well-being. Malnutrition, mental health The survey report also highlights the dual burden of malnutrition among youth. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While many struggle with being underweight, others face overweight or obesity, often linked to lifestyle changes and diet. This burden is compounded by high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Being underweight was notably more prevalent among those from disadvantaged castes or rural areas, and children of mothers with lower education levels. The findings underline the urgent need for public policy that tackles the deep-rooted inequalities beginning in childhood and extending into adult life. Recommendations include greater food diversity, regulation of unhealthy food consumption, improved access to nutritious diets, and public health campaigns encouraging active lifestyles. Education expansion On the brighter side, efforts to universalise school education have shown tangible progress in Telangana. The state has seen a notable rise in higher secondary school completion and university enrolment, particularly among women and youth from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. These gains, observed over the past seven years, mark a significant step towards bridging educational inequalities and expanding opportunities for disadvantaged communities, the report says.
The Hindu
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Enrolment goes up in Telangana but learning outcomes and jobs remain a concern, finds survey
Despite progress in school enrolment and university attendance, young people in Telangana are not experiencing commensurate improvements in learning outcomes or employment prospects, according to the latest findings from the seventh round of the Young Lives study released on May 30. The report was launched by Telangana Women and Child Welfare Minister D. Anasuya Seethakka at the Centre for Economic and Social Studies in Begumpet. 'Studies like these are essential, and we will strive to use them to identify and correct existing gaps. Following discussions in the Cabinet, will work toward allocating more funds to address the pending issues,' the Minister said speaking at the launch. The international longitudinal study, that has tracked two cohorts of children in Telangana since 2002 when they were aged 1 (younger cohort) and 8 years (older cohort) respectively, revealed that while access to education has improved, the quality of learning remains a concern. The sample includes 948 participants — 641 from the younger cohort and 307 from the older cohort, representing diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Between 2016 and 2023, the percentage of youth in the State completing lower secondary education rose from 74% to 83% and higher secondary education increased from 53% to 61%. University enrolment also grew from 36% to 49%. However, basic reading comprehension scores among the younger cohort showed little to no improvement between the ages of 15 and 22, pointing to a disconnect between years of schooling and actual learning and raising questions about quality and effectiveness of the education system. Gender disparities in education have narrowed. By age 22, 60% women completed higher secondary education, compared to 62% among men, and university enrolment stood at 46% for women versus 52% for men. Still, women who experienced child marriage or early motherhood continued to have the poorest educational outcomes. CESS Director and Young Lives, India Principal Investigator E. Revathi called for an urgent need for a shift in policy focus towards improving the quality of teaching and learning, with greater attention to students from rural areas, Scheduled Castes, the poorest households and women. However, employment outcomes have declined. Despite Telangana having 67% of its population in the working-age group (15–59 years), the unemployment rate stood at 5.1% in 2024. The study noted a 9% drop in full-time employment among the younger cohort compared to 2016, falling from 62% to 53%, highlighting delays in securing stable employment. On the social front, there were some positive trends. The incidence of child marriage among women dropped from 32% in the older cohort to 16% in the younger cohort. Teenage pregnancies also declined, with 22% of younger cohort women reporting pregnancies before the age of 18, as compared to 29% in the older cohort. However, early life inequalities and social disadvantages continue to restrict opportunities, especially for women and marginalised groups.
