Latest news with #PoshanPakhwada
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Combating obesity among adolescents
There is an increased focus in public discourse on growing obesity among adolescents. The seventh edition of Poshan Pakhwada, held last month, focused on childhood and adolescent obesity alongside the first 1,000 days of life. The 'Let's Fix Our Food' consortium, a multi-stakeholder initiative spearheaded by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition, the Public Health Foundation of India, UNICEF-India, and others, recently released a set of policy briefs advocating for the need to better the food environments for adolescents. Last month, in a move to improve transparency on food labels, the Supreme Court gave the Central government a strict three-month window to finalise and enforce transparent food labelling regulations. These measures point towards growing concern about the problem. Nutrition paradox Adolescence is a period of rapid growth and transformation that lays the foundation for future health and well-being. Yet, in India, this crucial stage is being compromised not only by the problem of under nutrition but also by an emerging epidemic of obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases. Ironically, we now live in an era where reaching for a highly processed packaged food item is more convenient than choosing healthier alternatives. Poor nutrition, driven by the aggressive marketing and widespread availability of ultra-processed foods, is pushing our youth towards a lifetime burden of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. This is threatening their well-being and also the nation's long-term productivity and growth. India has, for a while, been facing a nutrition paradox where under nutrition and obesity coexist. While malnutrition persists among children, obesity and diet-related diseases are surging at an alarming rate. As per the World Obesity Atlas 2024, India has one of the steepest annual increases in childhood obesity globally. The Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey indicates that on average, over 5% of adolescents in India and as many as 10-15% in about 10 States are either overweight or obese. For a country with a fifth of its population being adolescents, this is deeply concerning. Adolescents are among the most vulnerable yet least empowered. In an apparently liberal food environment, their food choices appear to be many, but healthier options are not easy to find. Food choices are shaped by schools, social media, peer influence, and aggressive marketing. As highly processed foods, sugary drinks, and high sodium foods become dietary staples, obesity rates among teenagers continue to climb at an alarming pace. Nutrition, however, is not just a health issue — it directly impacts education, mental well-being, and future productivity. Poor nutrition is linked to decreased concentration, lower academic performance, and higher absenteeism, limiting students' potential. In our current food systems frameworks, a shift in power towards children (or those who uphold children's rights) is imminent to achieve healthy and equitable food systems that prioritise children's well-being. Government policies such as making nutrition a 'Jan Andolan (people's movement)', and school health and wellness programmes, will create greater awareness on nutrition. Dealing with the crisis What we essentially need is a two-pronged approach: strong regulatory policies that prioritise adolescent health and active youth engagement. How can policies ensure that healthy foods become accessible, affordable, and most importantly, aspirational in our diverse food environments? Fiscal measures such as a health tax on high fat, salt, and sugar, and subsidies for nutrient-rich foods, have proven to be somewhat effective in discouraging consumption of sugar sweetened beverages in other countries. We must implement front-of-pack nutrition labels to enable informed consumer choices, alongside stricter regulations to curb misleading advertisements targeting children, particularly on digital platforms and in schools. Schools too play a critical role in shaping children's food environments. Nutrition education in schools and communities can empower the youth to make informed food choices, and take up physical activity. However, the problem is not only about a lack of awareness or bad food choices. There is a need to enhance food literacy as an essential life skill that can equip adolescents to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy food, whether they are bought from outside or prepared at home; help them choose diverse diets from what is locally grown; and to be able to read and decipher the information on food labels. We also need inter-ministerial coordination. Nutrition falls under multiple ministries — Women and Child Development, Health, Agriculture, Industry, Consumer Affairs, and Education — and each is working on different aspects. However, without convergence in discourse and action, efforts remain fragmented. Initiatives such as Poshan Abhiyaan provide a framework for collaboration, but a united front from multiple sectors can advocate for stronger regulatory frameworks. It is time to acknowledge that a healthier India demands more than awareness — it requires healthy eating plates, playgrounds, policy action, youth leadership, and a major shift in our food environments. When we prioritise healthy beginnings, we will pave the way for a hopeful future.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Raj bags top rank in nat'l nutrition campaign
Jaipur: Rajasthan has secured first position in this year's ' Poshan Pakhwada ', a national-level nutrition campaign held over a fortnight from April 8 to 22, by conducting more than 1.17 crore activities to spread awareness and assist beneficiaries. Chhattisgarh is in the second position with 1.09 crore awareness activities conducted over the fortnight. The initiative, led by Union ministry of women and child development , focuses on ensuring supply of nutritional food to children till the age of six years, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. Secretary for Rajasthan's women and child development department, Mahendra Soni, stated, "We instructed all officials to ensure that Rajasthan was in the top three ranks. The awareness activities conducted included seminars and personal discussions for behavioural change, as well as ground-level and online monitoring."
Hans India
23-04-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Welfare Minister calls for making Prakasam anaemia-free district
Ongole: Social Welfare Minister Dr Dola Sri Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy and collector A Thameem Ansariya urged everyone to work towards making Prakasam district free from anaemia. The minister and the collector participated in the closing ceremony of the Nutrition Fortnight (Poshan Pakhwada) celebrations organised by the Women Development and Child Welfare Department in Ongole on Tuesday. As part of the celebrations, a rally was conducted from the Collectorate to the Mini Stadium. Mayor Gangada Sujata, Joint Collector R Gopala Krishna, ICDS Project Director Hena Sujan, District Medical and Health Officer Dr Venkateswara Rao, along with officials from DRDA and MEPMA, ASHA workers, students, and others also participated. Joint collector Gopal Krishna administered an oath to the participants. Speaking at the event, Minister Dr Swamy emphasised that childhood is precious, and the government's primary goal is to ensure every child lives a healthy life. He stressed the need to reduce infant and maternal mortality rates in the district and highlighted the concerning prevalence of child marriages in Prakasam district that must be prevented. The minister explained that the Nutrition Fortnight, observed from the April 8th to the 22nd, focused on different themes each day. He emphasised that the first 1,000 days of a child's life after birth are crucial, requiring proper nutrition, mental development training, and efforts to eliminate anaemia among pregnant women, new mothers, and adolescent girls. He called for strong coordination between ICDS, the Medical Health Department, and the Education Department. The minister praised the establishment of a District Child Resource Centre and a lactation room for mothers with infants at the Collectorate. Collector Thameem Ansariya detailed the various activities conducted during the 15-day programme, including awareness sessions on breastfeeding, village-level health and sanitation nutrition days, and counselling for proper care during the first 1,000 days from conception to age two. She confirmed that efforts are ongoing to make Prakasam an anaemia-free district with everyone's cooperation. Following the speeches, the minister, collector, and other officials inaugurated the breastfeeding room for nursing mothers at the Collectorate. The minister also visited the District Child Resource Centre and inspected a photo exhibition arranged for the occasion.
Hans India
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Officials told to prepare for ‘Poshan Pakhwada' to be held on April 23
Anantapur: District Collector Dr Vinod Kumar V, alongside Rapthadu MLA Paritala Sunitha, participated in a Public Grievance Redressal Platform at RJC Kalyana Mandapam in Prasannayanapalli village, Rapthadu mandal on Monday. During the event, 407 public petitions were received. The Collector emphasised that the programme, initiated under Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's 'People First' motto, aims to efficiently address public grievances. He directed officials to respond positively to petitions and provide effective solutions, noting that similar programmes are being conducted at district, constituency, and mandal levels. To enhance communication, the Collector's Office has established a Command and Control Room and a dedicated social media team. Petitions are routed to relevant departments through this system, and action reports with photographic evidence are required from the departments. MLA Paritala Sunitha expressed satisfaction with mandal-level redressal platform, stating it brings the government closer to people. She highlighted that most petitions pertained to land disputes, drinking water, pensions, housing sites, and ration cards. As part of the event, Collector Vinod Kumar and MLA Sunitha presented a mega cheque of Rs 1,34,116 to Anantha Animuthyalu Education Society, a charitable initiative that supports underprivileged students. The Collector also made a personal donation of Rs 10,000. The Collector issued directives to ICDS officials to prepare for the upcoming 'Poshan Pakhwada' program on April 23. He instructed officials to regularly monitor Anganwadi Centers and provide sanitation reports for each panchayat and ward. A special meeting with municipal commissioners and sanitation staff is planned to discuss door-to-door waste collection, processing, equipment, and funding. He also stressed the importance of reactivating inactive RRR Centers and improving the functionality of Community Sanitary Complexes under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
The Hindu
22-04-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
‘Poshan Pakhwada' held for pregnant, lactating women in Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam North MLA P. Vishnu Kumar Raju called upon pregnant women and lactating mothers to take advantage of the '1,000-day protection' programme, being organised under the aegis of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS). The MLA was the chief guest at the 'Poshan Pakhwada' programme, held under the aegis of the ICDS Urban Project, Marripalem Sector, at Madhava Swamy Kalyana Mandapam of 51st ward, on Monday. He distributed fruits and sweets to pregnant women as part of the 'Seemantham' programme. He said that the programme was being organised to create awareness of the need for a balanced diet for the proper growth of children. Urban CDPO Ramani Kumari said that the 'Poshan Pakhwada' programme, which commenced on April 8, would continue till April 22. Marripalem Sector Supervisor J.N. Jyothi was present. Earlier, the MLA went around the stalls put up by the Anganwadis.
