Childhood obesity is rising, especially in urban and peri-urban areas in India. Recent data indicates a prevalence of obesity at around 16%, leading to a high incidence of insulin resistance. Obese children and adolescents are at significantly higher risk of developing early-onset type 2 diabetes.The increasing urbanization, coupled with a lack of physical activity and unhealthy diets, is contributing to the obesity epidemic, leading to a substantial increase in the number of people with diabetes, especially among obese children and adolescents.A substantial portion of individuals at risk of diabetes can prevent the disease through dietary and lifestyle changes.The project aims to raise awareness about diabetes, obesity, lipid disorders, and heart disease in children and adolescents through a school-based intervention programme.
The project comprises two main components. The first component focuses on individual-level changes, targeting children, parents, and teachers to inform and encourage behavioural changes. The second component aims to change the environment by fostering a healthy atmosphere at home and school.The project will train teachers and student volunteers to enhance awareness among children regarding obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and the associated consequences, such as blindness, renal failure, heart attacks, strokes, and more. Children will also learn that these diseases often originate in childhood, emphasizing that appropriate interventions during childhood can prevent these conditions.The project will introduce healthy food options in school canteens, label food items in schools with appropriate warning signs, and increase physical activity during school hours. Parents of children with high-risk characteristics will receive exceptional support related to nutrition for overweight children, cooking methods, advice on physical activity, and more.To ensure sustainability, the project will:- Continue labelling food items sold in school canteens- Sustain awareness efforts through 120 trained student volunteers- Maintain the focus on exercise with the help of 60 physical education teachers- Encourage healthy eating habits at home within families
- 197 teachers and 855 student volunteers were trained- 69,930 children were sensitized on health education- 15,000 parents were sensitized on health education- Individual nutrition counselling sessions with interested parents and parents of children who are overweight/obese were organised