Context : Rising Concern: Childhood Hypertension in India
- Hypertension is no longer an adult-only issue — Indian children increasingly show elevated blood pressure.
- CNNS (2016–18): 7.3% adolescents hypertensive; urban rate even higher at 9.1%.
- NFHS-5: 12% of teenagers (15–19 years) have elevated blood pressure.
- Implication: Early intervention is critical — the disease often goes unnoticed until adolescence or adulthood.
Relevance : GS 2(Health ,Social Issues )
Primary Causes of the Trend
- Unhealthy diets: Processed and packaged snacks, high in salt and low in nutrition.
- Salt intake in adolescents: 8+ grams/day, almost double the WHO adult limit.
- Lifestyle changes:
- Reduced physical activity.
- Indoor and online-based routines.
- Food addiction cycle: Early preference for hyper-palatable foods → reduced acceptance of healthier options → long-term habits.
Role of PM POSHAN (Mid-Day Meal Scheme)
- World’s largest school meal programme:
- Covers 120 million children in 1.27 million+ schools (as of 2025).
- Current strength: Provides basic nutrition.
- Opportunity: Transform meals into tools for habit formation and food literacy.
Proposed Reform Directions
- Reimagine PM POSHAN as a “food literacy engine”.
- Integrate:
- Regional menus using local, fresh produce.
- Nutrition education embedded in curriculum.
- Student participation in food prep, planning, and serving.
International Models to Emulate
- Japan’s ShoKuiku model:
- Children plan meals, learn about nutrition, serve food to peers.
- Leads to lower obesity and healthier eating culture.
- Vietnam’s adaptation:
- Ministry of Education + Ajinomoto = improved school meals with ShoKuiku philosophy.
Policy Takeaways & Recommendations
- Shift from calorie-centric to behavior-centric nutrition policies.
- Make PM POSHAN a platform for:
- Early intervention against NCDs (like hypertension).
- Changing food environments in schools.
- Build structured food education as part of national nutrition strategy.
