According to health experts on Tuesday, the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) recent order to install “Sugar Boards” in schools is a crucial public health measure that also supports worldwide nutrition objectives.

Last Monday, the CBSE ordered more than 24,000 affiliated schools around India to set up sugar boards in response to the rising number of young children who are obese and suffering from diabetes.

Essential information will be supplied by the Sugar Boards, such as the amount of sugar that should be ingested, the amount of sugar in typical items (such junk food and cold beverages), the health dangers of consuming large amounts of sugar, and better dietary options.

This program informs kids on the risks of consuming too much sugar, which is a leading cause of Type 2 diabetes and childhood obesity. “The boards encourage awareness and healthier choices by clearly displaying recommended sugar intake and the sugar content in common foods,” Dr. Naval Vikram, a professor of medicine at AIIMS, New Delhi, told IANS.

When combined with workshops and parental participation, this strategy may change eating patterns at a young age. It’s an important and timely public health strategy that supports global nutrition objectives and lays the groundwork for Indian children’s long-term well-being,” the expert said.

Previously seen exclusively in adults and the elderly, type 2 diabetes is increasingly more frequent in youngsters.

In the letter to school principals, the CBSE blamed the concerning trend, which has been especially evident in the last 10 years, on excessive sugar consumption, which is often brought on by the convenient access to processed meals, sugary snacks, and drinks in school settings.

Throughout one’s life, the World Health Organization (WHO) advises consuming less added sugar. The WHO advises limiting the consumption of free sugars to less than 10% of total calorie intake in both adults and children. The United Nations health organization recommends lowering the use of free sugars even further, to less than 5% of total caloric intake.

According to studies, sugar accounts for 13% of children’s daily caloric intake between the ages of 4 and 10 and 15% for those between the ages of 11 and 18, far over the suggested threshold of 5%, the letter said.

According to the CBSE, a major contributing factor to this high consumption is the “proliferation of sugary snacks, beverages, and processed foods, often readily available in school environments.”

According to the statement, the new Sugar Board will help children make educated dietary choices and encourage long-term health advantages.

“I think it’s a good step, but much more needs to be done to reduce consumption of unhealthy food products, such as regulating warning labels and prohibiting the advertising of products high in fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS).” “The canteen should be made ‘HFSS-free,’ even if you only concentrate on schools,” pediatrician Dr. Arun Gupta of New Delhi told IANS.

Excessive sugar intake raises the risk of diabetes as well as obesity, dental issues, and other metabolic diseases, all of which have an effect on children’s long-term health and academic achievement.

The move is “a timely and much-needed” one, according to Dr. Harsh Mahajan, chair of the FICCI Health Services Committee.

He pointed out that while lifestyle-related problems are starting to impact kids at a younger age, a concerning number of them go misdiagnosed until much later, by which time irreparable harm has already been done. In order to better understand children’s health and implement early improvements, the experts also encouraged parents and schools to think about routine screening tests such as fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, liver function, lipid profile, BMI, and waist circumference.