New Delhi: In a major move aimed at improving student health, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has directed all affiliated schools across the country to establish a ‘Sugar Board’. This initiative is a response to the alarming rise in lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure among school-going children.
The ‘Sugar Board’ will monitor and regulate students’ sugar intake and dietary habits, with a focus on promoting healthier food choices. According to CBSE, the goal is to prevent childhood obesity and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that are increasingly being diagnosed at younger ages.
Alarming Health Trends in Children
Dr. Reema Dada, Professor and Head of the Media & Anatomy Department at AIIMS Delhi, has hailed the decision as both timely and essential. “Children as young as 10 are now being diagnosed with serious ailments like diabetes and hypertension,” she said. “The biggest contributing factor is their unhealthy eating patterns.”
Reports suggest that children today consume up to 15% of their daily calories from sugar, three times the recommended limit of 5%. Excessive consumption of sugary foods, packaged drinks, and junk food is leading to weakened immune systems and long-term health risks.
Key Directives Under the Initiative
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Schools must form a ‘Sugar Board’ to oversee students’ food consumption and encourage healthy dietary habits.
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The board will work to educate parents, teachers, and students on the dangers of excess sugar intake.
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School canteens are required to offer healthier alternatives—such as fruits, fresh juices, and nutritious light snacks—instead of items like chips, cold drinks, and cakes.
Promoting Holistic Health
Dr. Dada emphasized that good nutrition is crucial not only for physical health but also for mental well-being. “Healthy food improves focus, reduces stress, and enhances children’s interest in studies,” she noted.
She also warned that many parents are unaware of how sugar-rich foods and drinks are silently harming their children’s development. “It’s high time both schools and families work together to cultivate smarter eating habits,” she added.
A Step Towards a Healthier Generation
With lifestyle-related illnesses on the rise, CBSE’s new policy reflects a proactive approach toward student health. By integrating nutritional awareness into school systems, the board hopes to instill lifelong healthy habits in children and significantly reduce the early onset of preventable diseases.
This move is being seen as a landmark step in preventive healthcare within the education system—and could serve as a model for other education boards in the country.
