JP Nadda warns of obesity surge, calls for safe and healthy eating
New Delhi: Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Shri JP Nadda has emphasized that a healthy society is the foundation of a strong and developed nation.
Delivering the keynote address on the occasion of World Food Safety Day, organized by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) at NIMHANS, Bengaluru the Minister recalled Hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to reduce oil consumption by 10 per cent.
Highlighting the importance of mindful eating, Shri JP Nadda urged people to monitor their calorie intake and maintain a balanced diet. He cited a recent study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which revealed that between 2008 and 2020, obesity rates in India rose to 39.6% in urban areas and 23.1% in rural areas. He warned that if preventive steps are not taken now, one-third of India’s population could become obese by 2050.
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As part of the awareness campaign, the Minister released the Eat Right Activity Book, which will be distributed to school children through the Education Department and to passengers by the Railway Board.
Shri Nadda also commended the innovative behavioural change strategy i.e., the widespread promotion of Sugar and Oil Boards across schools, workplaces and public institutions, developed by FSSAI under the aegis of Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare that serve as powerful visual advocacy tools, displaying clear, relatable information about hidden sugars and fats in everyday food items.
He also informed that NCERT incorporated Healthy Eating Habits as a subject in the school curriculum. The conference was also addressed by Ms. Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GoI; Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy; Shri Sathish Kumar, Railway Board Chairman, Shri U.S. Dhyani, FSSAI Executive Director; and Shri V.K. Pancham, Director, Southern Region, FSSAI.
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