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Time of India
27-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
BM Education: CBSE mandates ‘Oil Boards' in schools to fight childhood obesity
Updated: Jul 27, 2025, 06:00 IST In a bid to combat rising childhood obesity , the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has directed all affiliated schools to install 'Oil Boards' across campuses and promote healthy living among students. This directive, detailed in a circular (No. Acad-45/2025) issued on July 15, builds on CBSE's earlier initiative mandating 'Sugar Boards' and reflects its broader campaign to instill good eating habits and encourage physical activity in alarming data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) and the Lancet Global Burden of Disease study, the board noted that more than 20% of urban adults in India are overweight or obese. Projections suggest this number could soar to over 44.9 crore by 2050, up from 18 crore in 2021. 'The rise in childhood obesity is closely linked to poor dietary habits and reduced physical activity,' the circular part of this initiative, CBSE has instructed schools to display 'Oil Boards'—both digital and static—in high-traffic areas such as cafeterias, corridors, and lobbies. These boards will serve as daily visual reminders of the health risks posed by excessive consumption of oil and fats. Moreover, the board has asked that health messages be printed on all official school stationery like letterheads, notebooks, and folders to keep the message constant throughout the school year.'Schools are not just centres of learning, but also places where children build lifelong habits,' said Dr Praggya M Singh, Director (Academics), CBSE. 'Through visual campaigns and practical steps, we aim to make students more conscious of what they eat and how they live.' Schools are not just centres of learning, but also places where children build lifelong habits In addition to visual messaging, the CBSE has urged schools to ensure the availability of nutritious, low-fat food options on campus while limiting the sale of sugary drinks and high-fat snacks. Schools are also encouraged to integrate physical activity into daily routines—by promoting the use of stairs, organizing quick exercise breaks, and developing walking paths on school will be actively involved in designing the 'Oil Boards' as part of experiential learning. To support schools, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has provided posters and videos through its official YouTube channel. Dr Singh concluded, 'The habits we form now will shape the health of the next generation.'
NDTV
18-07-2025
- Health
- NDTV
CBSE Urges Schools To Display 'Oil Boards,' Encourage Healthy Habits Among Students
To raise awareness among students about healthy eating habits, the CBSE has asked schools to display "oil boards" within their premises. These refer to posters that highlight the high oil content in common foods, along with related health information. The directive was issued by Dr Praggya M Singh, Director (Academics), CBSE, urging school heads to promote healthy lifestyles among students. This follows an earlier circular that asked schools to set up "sugar boards" with a similar objective. The new letter cites a significant rise in obesity cases among children and adults. Citing the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) 2019-21, the circular said, "Over one in five adults in urban areas are overweight or obese." It also referred to the Lancet GBD 2021 obesity forecast (published in 2025), stating, "The number of overweight and obese adults in India is projected to rise from 18 crore in 2021 to 44.9 crore by 2050, making it the country with the second-highest global burden. Prevalence of childhood obesity is impacted mostly by poor dietary habits and reduced physical activity." Also Read: Food Authority Issues Advisory Against '100%' Claims In Food Labels - Why It Matters What The New CBSE Circular Asks Schools To Do The letter calls on schools to "sensitise" students and staff to these health issues by doing the following: Use Posters and Displays: Put up digital or printed posters in shared spaces such as cafeterias, lobbies, meeting rooms, and other public areas to highlight the risks of unhealthy eating. Add Health Messages on Stationery: Carry short health messages on school stationery such as letterheads, envelopes, notepads, and folders, to serve as regular reminders for preventing obesity. Encourage Healthy Habits in Schools: Promote healthy eating by offering more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat food options; limiting sugary and fatty snacks; and encouraging physical activity such as taking the stairs, short exercise breaks, and walking paths. Oil Board. Photo Credit: FSSAI What The Earlier Circular Said In May 2025, CBSE issued a separate circular directing schools to warn students about excessive sugar intake through the display of "sugar boards." These posters outline the recommended daily sugar limits, sugar content in popular items like cold drinks and fast food, health risks of sugar overconsumption, and healthier alternatives. Schools were asked to help students make more informed food choices for long-term health. The letter also encouraged seminars and workshops to raise awareness. Sugar Board Also Read: From Masala Oats To Flavoured Dahi: 10 Everyday Indian Foods With Hidden Sugar And Oil Related Recent Developments Posters warning against high sugar and oil consumption are not limited to schools. Central government offices and other institutions are also being asked to display similar boards to promote better dietary choices. In June, the Union Health Ministry proposed that boards showing oil and sugar content in common foods like pizzas, burgers, samosas, vada pav, and kachoris be "prominently displayed" in schools, offices, and other government departments and bodies, ANI reported. In recent months, these " sugar and fat boards" have sparked headlines and public debate around health, personal choice, and food habits. Advertisement For the latest food news, health tips and recipes, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and YouTube. Tags: Oil Board CBSE Circular CBSE Food News Health News Show full article Comments
Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
‘Sugar boards' coming to schools: CBSE's push to fight students' diabetes risk
With most of the school canteens brimming with colas, chips, and candies, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) ) has rolled out a directive asking all affiliated schools to install 'sugar boards'—a step aimed at tackling the growing risk of Type 2 diabetes among children. In a move blending health education with visual awareness, over 26,000 CBSE schools across India have been instructed to display information on sugar content in everyday foods, its health risks, and alternatives to sugary snacks and drinks. Schools have been given a July 15 deadline to upload photographs of the boards as proof of compliance, a board official said in a missive to all the school principal. 'There is a clear link between the rise in diabetes cases among children and the easy availability of sugary snacks, soft drinks, and processed foods within school environments,' CBSE said in a letter to school principals. CBSE officials cited findings that children between 4 to 10 years derive around 13% of their daily calories from sugar, while those aged 11 to 18 years consume up to 15%, three times the recommended limit of 5%. The proliferation of sugary snacks, beverages, and processed foods, often readily available in school environments, contributes significantly to this excessive intake, said Praggya M Singh, director (academics), CBSE. These boards will include data on recommended daily sugar limits, sugar content in commonly consumed items, and long-term health consequences such as obesity, diabetes, and poor academic performance. The directive follows an appeal from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), which urged CBSE to ensure the health rights of children, especially those from marginalised groups, are upheld through preventive measures in schools. Former CBSE chairman Ashok Ganguly urged the board to embed such efforts into the core curriculum for lasting impact. 'We need to move beyond posters and ensure that health education is felt and internalised by students. The NEP 2020 already supports integrating physical and health education into all school levels,' Ganguly said. He suggested that CBSE develop supplementary material under a 'Frontline Curriculum' to further engage students in understanding the effects of sugar and nutrition. School principals in Lucknow expressed support for the initiative. 'We already conduct adolescent health sessions, and this move will help reinforce healthy eating habits,' said Meenakshi Bahadur, principal of Study Hall. 'A healthy mind resides in a healthy body. We fully support the initiative,' added Fr Paul Correa, principal of Cathedral Senior Secondary School.
