Teens Slash Junk Food by 30% in School Program

An intensive 11-session awareness program conducted in eight public schools across Chandigarh has led to a remarkable 30% reduction in ultra-processed food consumption among adolescents. Over six months, students significantly altered their dietary patterns, decreasing their daily calorie intake by an average of 1,682 calories. This intervention, involving researchers from the Public Health Foundation of India and PGI Chandigarh, demonstrates the effectiveness of school-based health initiatives in low- and middle-income countries.

The study, published in BMJ Global Health, tracked urban adolescents who initially consumed approximately 3,500 calories daily, primarily from ultra-processed sources. Following the program, their intake fell to around 2,000 calories. While junk food consumption decreased, there was no significant increase in fruit or home-cooked meals, suggesting that reducing unhealthy habits is more immediate than building healthy ones. Parent participation, though limited to one session, did not lead to significant changes in household eating patterns.

Despite an eight-month delay in impact assessment due to COVID-19, the sustained calorie reduction proved the long-term viability of school-level interventions when teachers and parents collaborate. Experts advocate for policy-level changes, including mandatory Front-of-Pack Warning Labels and uniform regulations for ultra-processed foods, to further combat the rising tide of childhood obesity and lifestyle diseases in India.