India suffers from a dual burden of malnutrition. If on one hand, it is under-nutrition and anaemia, then on other hand, it is over-nutrition, obesity and diabetes. Both can be overcome with healthy lifestyle habits from adolescence, say experts.
Every fifth person in India is an adolescent and there are more than 250 million adolescents in the country. It’s imperative then that their health be prioritised as they are most at risk of getting diabetic during adolescence due to dietary, food and lifestyle habits.
Preserving the health of the next generation is vital for India’s growth and status as an innovation hub. Early intervention is crucial to inculcate healthy habits, helping prevent diabetes and other lifestyle diseases. For the uninitiated, the National NCD Monitoring Framework recommends school-based programmes to integrate these habits into daily routines and engage parents and communities in health initiatives.
“Teaching children about health through age-appropriate, engaging games and activities is essential. Middle-school children, aged between 11 and 13, are particularly receptive and can quickly absorb new information and skills. This stage is optimal for health education as they are old enough to grasp the seriousness of information and eager to learn,” explains Dr Nalini Saligram, founder and CEO, Arogya World, a global health non-for-profit whose school-based programmes spread knowledge about healthy habits in adolescents.
Educating children about nutrition, balanced meals and healthy cooking, alongside lessons on sexual and reproductive health, equips them with healthy habits for life. Understanding their health rights empowers them to make better choices, such as playing during recess and advocating for health within their communities.
“Well-designed, age-appropriate and compelling health games can help bring textbook science to life. Health games and activities should be part of the regular education in schools. These games can be treated as ‘practicals’ and an extension of the biology and science curriculum,” says Dr Saligram.
Children can learn about health and literacy at the same time while reading about good nutrition and playing games that help them internalise it. Parents can also set an example and provide support at home by listening to the pester power of their children and reducing the junk food they buy. They can cook healthy meals together or get each family member to be responsible for making dinner from scratch once a week.
Families can also change the method of cooking to baking or grilling instead of frying, or using the natural sweetness of fruits instead of sugar. “These healthy lifestyle habits will help children prevent or at least delay diabetes, hypertension and heart disease as they grow up. It will also reduce their risk of kidney disease, stroke and blindness. Healthy lifestyles will help them reduce anaemia, preserve their mental health and wellbeing, and improve their leadership and confidence,” says Dr Saligram. Indeed, when our young learn about the importance of healthy living and are empowered to change behaviour, they will not only have a healthy but a productive future.
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