Report

The Indian Council of Medical Research–National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) has recommended imposing a health tax on high-fat, high-sugar, and salt foods, i.e, HFSS foods. This move aims to curb obesity rates among Indian adolescents, which have been rising sharply in recent years. The consortium, under the Let’s Fix Our Food (LFOF) initiative, has called for stricter food marketing regulations, especially those targeting children, and a ban on HFSS foods in school canteens.

The LFOF consortium has launched educational materials as part of its strategy. These include a comic book and a model nutrition curriculum. The materials teach young people about healthy eating and the importance of reading food labels. The policy also stresses the need for food education in schools. It calls for stronger regulation of food advertising aimed at children.

Urgent Action Needed to Prevent Health Crisis

Dr VK Paul, a Member of NITI Aayog, highlighted the need for immediate action. He warned about the growing public health threat from obesity and overweight among children. The LFOF consortium has called for urgent policy measures. It predicts that the number of obese children could reach 27 million by 2030 without swift action.

Source: India Today