Question : Obesity and Lifestyle Diseases

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the growing obesity and lifestyle diseases like diabetes among the children aged below 9 years and adolescents of age 10-19 in the country, particularly in Karnataka and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has child nutrition policies in place to ensure access to healthy and affordable food in schools and communities, and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to launch a nationwide public awareness campaign to combat obesity, improve health of our children and empower parents and caregivers with the tools and information to make healthy food choices for the children; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)
(a): As per Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS) 2016-18 conducted in 30 states, 1.3% of children (5-9 years) and 1.1% adolescents (10-19 years) were classified as obese. The prevalence of diabetes was low among both children – 1.2% (5-9 years) and adolescents – 0.6% (10-19 years). Similarly, 1.1% of children (5-9 years) and 2.2% adolescent (10-19 years) were classified as obese in the State of Karnataka.


(b) to (d): Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) jointly developed comprehensive School Health Programme to foster the growth, development and educational achievement of school going children by promoting their health and wellbeing and the same was released by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 14th April, 2018 in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh. National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in consultation with Ministries of Human Resource Development and Health and Family Welfare and other experts have developed a resource package which include 24 hour curriculum, training material for training of nodal teachers and facilitators guide to implement the programe.
Contd……

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The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has directed affiliated schools to ensure that junk/fast food is replaced completely with healthy snacks and carbonated and aerated beverages may be replaced by juices and dairy products (Lassi. Chach, Flavoured Milk etc).

The Anganwadi Services Scheme under the Umbrella of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme aims to improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age-group 0-6 years, pregnant women & lactating mothers and reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity and malnutrition. Under this scheme, supplementary Nutrition is provided to children under 6 years of age in the form of Take Home Ration, Morning Snacks and Hot Cooked Meals as per the provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013 to bridge the gap between the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) and the Average Daily Intake (ADI) as per the nutritional norms provided in the Act.

Further, the POSHAN Abhiyaan mission focuses on social and behavioral change communications and thus explicitly paving the way for a mass movement to promote a transformative change, to address the malnutrition related challenges and create awareness on holistic nutrition through a people’s movement with a focus on children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers.

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