How schools are helping Indian adolescents eat 1,000 fewer junk food calories a day

A new scientific study has found that structured school-based behavioural programmes can sharply reduce the consumption of ultra-processed foods among Indian adolescents, offering a significant tool to combat rising childhood obesity, diabetes and early heart-disease risk. Researchers reported that participating students cut more than 1,000 calories a day from junk food alone.

The findings come at a time when India is witnessing a rapid increase in diet-related health problems among children and teenagers.

Behavioural interventions show strong impact

The research, led by a team at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, evaluated how targeted classroom interventions could influence eating habits. The results, published in BMJ Global Health, demonstrate that simple behaviour-change strategies in schools can shift students away from high-salt, high-sugar ultra-processed foods (UPFs).

“This study demonstrates the potential of school-based behavioural interventions to reduce ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption among Indian adolescents, addressing a critical gap in public health research and practice in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs),” the authors said. The team included researchers from Imperial College London and the Public Health Foundation of India.

UPFs such as fast food, packaged snacks and sugary beverages are widely recognised as major contributors to rising rates of obesity, hypertension, diabetes and some cancers in younger populations.

Trial conducted across 12 Chandigarh schools

The researchers carried out a cluster-randomised controlled trial across 12 public schools in Chandigarh, focusing on Grade 8 students and their parents. Over a six-month period, adolescents attended 11 structured sessions designed to reshape dietary behaviour, while parents were offered a single awareness session encouraging healthier food choices at home.

Dietary data were collected before and after the intervention using two non-consecutive 24-hour recall surveys.

Students who took part consumed over 1,000 fewer daily calories from UPFs, while intake of other processed foods fell by roughly 270 calories per day, indicating a clear shift away from unhealthy diets.

Healthy eating habits still lag behind

While junk food consumption dropped sharply, the study found little corresponding rise in the intake of fruits or home-cooked meals. This suggests, researchers said, that reducing unhealthy food is easier than building long-term healthy eating habits.

The intervention appeared to have limited influence on parents, whose dietary patterns did not change significantly even after attending the educational session. The authors noted that this underlines the powerful influence schools have on adolescent behaviour, independent of household habits. 

Schools seen as key to preventing future lifestyle diseases

The research team said the findings highlight the potential for schools to act as frontline institutions in preventing future lifestyle-related conditions. With India facing an alarming surge in non-communicable diseases among young people, low-cost interventions may offer a scalable strategy for long-term public health benefits.

The study supports the idea that sustained, structured school programmes could play a critical role in reducing unhealthy eating patterns among India’s adolescents, even as broader dietary challenges persist. IANS