NEW DELHI: With the World Obesity Atlas 2026 estimating that nearly 4.1 crore Indian children are overweight or obese, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) this week unveiled a comprehensive roadmap aimed at reversing the growing public health crisis.
The recommendations include mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling, restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy foods to children, healthier food environments in schools, improved nutrition literacy, and fiscal measures such as taxes on foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS).
The roadmap also calls for stricter enforcement of existing Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations that prohibit the sale and advertising of foods high in saturated fat, trans fat, added sugar and sodium within school campuses and within a 50-metre radius of their gates. It recommends routine inspections, stronger monitoring mechanisms and greater accountability to ensure compliance.
A pilot assessment conducted in private schools in Uttar Pradesh found that ultra-processed snacks and sugary drinks were widely available in school canteens, while nutrition services remained limited and existing nutrition policies were poorly implemented.
According to the report, the absence of a legally enforceable definition of HFSS foods has weakened implementation of existing regulations.
The roadmap warns that India could account for more than 11% of the global childhood obesity burden by 2030 if current trends continue. It also estimates that unhealthy diets contribute to 56.4% of the country’s disease burden, driven by the widespread availability of HFSS foods, aggressive marketing and poor nutrition literacy.
The roadmap was launched by NITI Aayog member (Health) M Srinivas under the ICMR–National Institute of Nutrition (NIN)-led ‘Let’s Fix Our Food’ initiative. It brings together 10 policy briefs developed over nearly three years of research to guide action on improving India’s food environment and tackling childhood obesity.
