Lok Sabha Question No. 5013 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-01
Subject: Incidence of Overweightedness and obesity
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Ravneet Singh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5013 TO BE ANSWERED ON 1 st  April, 2022

## INCIDENCE OF OVERWEIGHTEDNESS AND OBESITY

## 5013. SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU:

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

(a) whether the Government is aware that the incidences of overweightedness and obesity are increasing  among  children,  adolescents  and  women  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;

(b)  whether  the  Government  is  also  planning  to  conduct  any  awareness  programmes  to encourage people to avoid obesity which can be a potential risk for many diseases;

(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether it is a fact that the Government is planning to tax foods high in sugar and salt and take other measures to tackle obesity in the country; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a): As per Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS), which is a national nutrition survey  covering  112,316  pre-schoolers,  school-age  children,  and  adolescents  in  rural  and urban areas across 30 states of India from 2016-18, 1.3% of children (5-9 years) and 1.1% adolescents (10-19 years) were classified as obese. As per the National Health Profile 2020, the prevalence of obesity among adults females (18+ years of age) have increased from 2.3% in 2000 to 5.1% in 2015

(b)  to  (c):  Health  is  a  state  subject.  The  Department  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare, Government of  India,  however,  provides  technical  and  financial  support  to  the  States/UTs under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS), as part of National Health Mission (NHM), based on the proposals received from the States/UTs and subject to the resource envelope. The  programme  focusses  on  strengthening  infrastructure,  human  resource  development, health promotion & awareness generation for prevention, early diagnosis, management and referral to an appropriate level of healthcare facility for treatment of the Non-Communicable

Diseases  (NCDs).  Under  NPCDCS,  682  District  NCD  Clinics,  191  District  Cardiac  Care Units, and 5408 Community Health Center NCD Clinics has been set up.

Preventive  aspect  of  NCDs  is  strengthened  under  Comprehensive  Primary  Health  Care through  Ayushman  Bharat  Health  Wellness  Centre  scheme,  by  promotion  of  wellness activities and targeted communication at the community level. Other initiatives for increasing public awareness for promotion of healthy lifestyle includes use of print, electronic and social media  for  continued  community  awareness.  Furthermore,  healthy  eating  is  also  promoted through FSSAI. Fit India movement is implemented by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and  various  Yoga  related  activities  are  carried  out  by  Ministry  of  AYUSH.  In  addition, NPCDCS gives financial support under NHM for awareness generation (IEC) activities for NCDs  to  be  undertaken  by  the  States/UTs  as  per  their  Programme  Implementation  Plans (PIPs).

National  Institute  of  Nutrition,  an  institution  under  Indian  Council  of  Medical  Research (ICMR) is working in the area of nutritional education such as development of IEC material for healthy eating.

Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  had  constituted  a  Working  Group  to  address consumption  of  food  high  in  Fat,  Salt  and  Sugar.  Central  Board  of  Secondary  Education (CBSE) has issued and  directed affiliated  schools  to  ensure  that  junk/fast  food  is  replaced completely with healthy snacks and carbonated and aerated beverages may be replaced by juices and dairy products (Lassi, Chach, Flavoured Milk etc.).

Government of India is implementing the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) to provide  information,  commodities  and  services  to  meet  the  diverse  needs  of  adolescents across the country. RKSK expands the scope of adolescent health programming in India to now include in its ambit nutrition and non-communicable diseases as well. Trained Medical Officers,  Auxillary  Nurse  Midwives  (ANMs)  and  Adolescent  Health  Counsellors  placed across  District  and  block  level  Govt.  health  institutions  in  the  Adolescent  Friendly  Health Clinics (AFHCs) provide services and counselling to the adolescent clients.

In partnership with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health is also implementing the School  Health  &  Wellness  Programme  under  Ayushman  Bharat.  This  programme  aims  to train  Two  teachers,  preferably  one  male  and  one  female,  in  every  school,  designated  as 'Health  and  Wellness  Ambassadors'  to  transact  health  promotion  and  disease  prevention information on 11 thematic areas every week to promote joyful learning. Nutrition, Health and Sanitation, Promotion of healthy lifestyle and growing up are among the thematic topics covered.

(d) to (e): FSSAI has prescribed limits for trans fatty acids in oils and fats to be not more than 2% by weight. Similarly, limit for trans fatty acids in food products in which edible oils and fats are used as ingredient has been prescribed at 2% by weight of oil/fat present in the food product. These limits are applicable from 01.01.2022.

FSS (Safe food and balanced diets for school children) Regulations, 2020 have been notified for promoting safe food and healthy diets for school children. Under these regulations, foods which are referred  to  as  food  products  high  in  saturated  fat  or  trans-fat  or  added  sugar  or sodium (HFSS) cannot be sold to school children in school canteens/mess premises/hostel kitchens or in an area within fifty meters  from the school gate in any direction. Marketing/advertising  of  such  products  is  also  prohibited.  Revised  FSS  (Labelling  and Display)  Regulations,  2020  mandate  that  labels  should  mention  food  allergens,  nutritional information  including  fat,  trans  fat,  salt,  sugar,  added  sugar  etc.  These  regulations  also provide that restaurant with 10 or more establishments must display information relating to quality  (type  of  preparation,  composition,  nutritional  including  any  allergens  and  energy (calorific  value  in  kcal)  and  quantity  (amount,  number,  size  etc.)  of  the  food  products  per serving  to  enable  consumers  to  make  an  informed  choice.  Under  FSS  (Advertising  and Claims) Regulations, 2018, there is a check on advertisements in respect of a food product that  undermines  the  importance  of  healthy  lifestyles  or  portrays  the  food  product  as  a complete replacement of normal meal.

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