Lok Sabha Question No. 1912 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-21
Subject: Obesity
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: RAMSINH PATALYABHAI RATHWA, RAJENDRA AGRAWAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1912 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST DECEMBER, 2018

## OBESITY

## 1912. SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA: SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the incidence of obesity is increasing among not only mi -aged persons, but also among the youth in urban areas and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  formulate  any  policy  or  guidelines  to  tackle increasing incidence of obesity among the urban population and if so, details thereof;
- (c) whether any measures have been taken by the Government to put in place any h ealth policy to tackle obesity among children and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether there has been reports of violations of the regulations in the food industry food companies, soft drinks companies etc., if so, the details of such incident s reported duri g the last three years in the country; and
- (e) the stringent action taken against the agencies which violated the rules?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE ( SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

- (a) to (c): National Family Health Survey data shows that there is increase in obesity in the group 15 - 49 years in India.

|                   | Male   | Female   |
|-------------------|--------|----------|
| NFHS 3 (2005- 06) | 9.3%   | 12.6%    |
| NFHS 4 (2015- 16  | 18.6%  | 20.7%    |

While  Health  is  a  State  Subject,  the  Government  of  India  is  implementing National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases and st (NPCDCS)  for  interventions  up  to  District  level  under  the  National  Health  Mission(NHM NPCDCS has a focus on awareness generation for behaviour and life style changes, screening and early diagnosis of persons with high level of risk factors including obesity and the to higher facilities for appropriate management of non - communicable diseases.

India is the first country globally to adopt the NC D Global Monitoring Framework and Action Plan to its National Context. The framework elements include halting the rise in and diabetes prevalence.

Rastriya  Bal  Swasthya  Karyakram (RBSK)  under  NHM  aims  to  improve  the  overall quality of life of children and provide comprehensive care to all the children in the c including  school  children.  The  Government  of  India  has  also  launched  Rashtriya  Kis Swasthya  Karyakram  (RKSK),  f or  adolescents  in  the  age  group  of  10 -19  years,  which  also targets  their  nutrition  including  Body  Mass  Index  (BMI)  Screening,  reproductive  health substance abuse among other issues.

Further,  for  early  diagnosis,  population  level  initiative  for  prevent on,  control  and screening for common Non - Communicable Diseases (diabetes, hypertension and cancer viz. oral, breast and cervical cancer) has been rolled out in over 200 districts of the cou NHM, as a part of comprehensive primary healthcare. Un der this initiative, services of frontline health workers and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) are being used for risk pro and screening of population. This will generate awareness on risk factors of NCDs as well

A  National  Multisectora l  Action  Plan  has  been  developed  in  consultation  with Departments of Union Government. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) ha launched Eat Right India movement to promote healthy diet. Print, electronic and social are us ed to promote healthy living and to generate awareness on risk factors of NCDs.

ICMR - NIN is making Nutrition Education Videos for Adolescent girls on Healthy Foo habits as a part of Poshan Abhiyan.

(d) & (e): There have been instances of violation o f provisions of Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations made therunder.  As implementation and enforceme of  provisions of FSS Act, Rules and Regulations primarily lies with State/UT Governments state food authorities have b een advised from time to time to keep a strict vigil by regula drawing food samples from all sources viz.  manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers and strict action against the offenders.   In cases where samples are found to be non - conforming, penal  action  is  taken  against  the  defaulting  Food  Business  Operators  (FBOs)  under provisions of FSS Act.

As  per  the  information  received  from  States/UT  Governments,  the  details  of  samp analysed, tested, found non - conforming and action taken duri ng the last three years in respect of all food articles, including soft/energy drinks is at Annexure.

Year

Annexure

Statement  regarding  number  of  samples  of    food products  examined,    found  nonconforming to the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Rules and Regulations made thereunder   and prosecution launched during the last three years

|         | of samples analysed   | samples found non- conforming   | cases in which Civil/ Criminal cases launched 9979   | cases of Conviction   |                                              |                          |
|---------|-----------------------|---------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|----------------------------------------------|--------------------------|
|         | of samples analysed   | samples found non- conforming   | cases in which Civil/ Criminal cases launched 9979   | cases of Conviction   | No. of cases in which Penalties imposed 3669 | Amount of penalty raised |
| 2015-16 | 72499                 | 16133                           |                                                      | 540                   |                                              | Rs.21,65,98,989          |
| 2016-17 | 78340                 | 18325                           | 13080                                                | 1605                  | 4757                                         | Rs.17,01,93,266          |
| 2017-18 | 99353                 | 24262                           | 15121                                                | 5198                  | 7627                                         | Rs.26,35,41,067          |

Number

Source: States/UTs

Number of

Number of

Number of

Cases of penalty