For many schoolchildren, sugary drinks, packaged snacks and processed food have become part of their everyday diet. But new directions for schools across Gujarat are putting the spotlight on just how much added sugar children consume without always realising it.
Children aged 4 to 10 get about 13% of their daily calories from added sugar, while the figure rises to around 15% among adolescents aged 11 to 18, according to an NCPCR study cited in a recent circular. The recommended level is around 5%.
Against this backdrop, the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) has directed schools to install “sugar boards” and hold awareness activities to help students understand their daily sugar intake.
The boards will display information on the recommended amount of sugar children should consume, along with the amount found in commonly consumed food and drinks. They will also explain the health risks associated with excessive sugar intake.
The food environment around schools
The concern is not limited to what children eat at home. The circular cited increased access to junk food, soft drinks and processed food, particularly around schools, as a factor behind changing eating habits among children.
Regularly consuming too much sugar can increase the risk of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and dental problems, along with other metabolic health issues.
For schools, however, the new instructions go beyond putting up an information board.
They have been asked to organise seminars, workshops and awareness programmes to encourage students to reduce their sugar intake and make healthier food choices.
The directions follow earlier advisories on the issue that reportedly did not receive an adequate response from schools.
The idea behind the new approach is to make students stop and think about what they consume every day—not just during a health-awareness programme, but when choosing the drink, snack or packaged food that goes into their school bag or lunch break.
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