Teach eating right at school too

Poor eating habits are contributing to the rising rate of childhood and adolescent overweight,obesity and Type 2 diabetes and many other lifestyle related disorders.

Obesity in childhood and adolescence is an independent risk factor for adult obesity and precursor to chronic degenerative diseases. Not only are these poor eating habits in childhood a concern,it is likely that they will be transferred into adulthood and further increase the risk of chronic degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.

The real concern is that adult diseases including high cholesterol levels,high blood pressure,abnormal glucose tolerance,diabetes,stroke,liver diseases,bone diseases and cancer are manifesting earlier in childhood and once developed,they stay throughout life. Childhood obesity has assumed epidemic proportion globally.

Some studies indicate the prevalence rates for obesity in children in India may be even higher than the global average of 24 per cent — a great paradox which co-exists with poverty.

Nutrition is important to people of all ages,but it is particularly important to the well-being of children and adolescents. Well-nourished children and adolescents are more likely to be better prepared to learn,be active,and maintain their health as adults. Today,many in these age groups have unhealthy eating patterns. Concerns about student nutrition,along with the strong relationship between diet and optimal learning and increasing rates of childhood obesity,Type 2 diabetes and associated health problems,call for an aggressive action and collaborative partnerships.

School years are an influential time in a child’s development,a time when lifelong eating patterns are formed. The early years are the most appropriate time to establish healthy eating patterns since children’s eating behaviours carry into adulthood.

Since children and teenagers spend a significant amount of their time at school,it is imperative to address eating habits of children here and create healthier school nutrition environments and promote lifelong healthy eating behaviours. Schools provide an ideal setting for intervention,and reinforce health and nutrition messages. Schools cannot work independently. Any initiative must address local governments,boards of education,school communities,public health units and parents.

Create Healthy School Nutrition Environment

Developing and adopting food and nutrition policies that create and support healthy eating environments

Ensure that the formal curriculum is designed so that students to develop knowledge,attitudes and skills for adopting healthy eating behaviours. A minimum of 50 hours of nutrition education per year is necessary to influence behaviour. Sensitise students to risk of junk food,teach them healthy cooking skills

Training teachers in nutrition can positively affect their nutrition behaviour and help them be positive role models for students and enhance their ability to provide healthy food choices.

Ensure food available in the school is consistent with classroom teaching,healthier options should be reasonably priced

Educate parents and the wider community about nutrition. Students are more likely to adopt healthy eating behaviours if they receive the message through multiple channels

Ensure a safe food environment where all students are comfortable and can enjoy eating. It will help decrease the risk of food-borne illnesses and protect students with allergies (e.g. wheat,peanut or nut)

Develop recommendations for scheduling nutrition breaks at appropriate times that allow students sufficient time to eat. Lunch breaks should be carefully scheduled so that recess is not competing with mealtimes. Research shows that children eat less if they are eager to go outside for recess.

Ishi khosla is a former senior nutritionist at Escorts. She heads the Centre of Dietary Counselling and also runs a health food store. She feels that for complete well-being,one should integrate physical,mental and spiritual health. According to her: “To be healthy should be the ultimate goal for all.”