NEWS: India faces a double burden of adolescent malnutrition, with rising undernutrition, anaemia, and obesity, including the emerging 'thin-fat' phenotype—children appearing lean but having excess body fat and higher cardiometabolic risk.

CURRENT STATUS

• Double Burden: NFHS-6 (2023–24) reports 29.3% stunting, while adolescent obesity has increased 33-fold (Lancet 2024).
• Anaemia: NFHS-5 (2019–21) found 59.1% of adolescent girls and 31.1% of boys are anaemic.
• Dietary Deficiency: Less than 10% of adolescents consume fruits or eggs daily; over 25% do not consume green leafy vegetables weekly.
• Health Concern: India ranks second globally (after China) in paediatric Type-2 diabetes cases.

MAJOR CAUSES

• Increased consumption of ultra-processed foods due to aggressive marketing.
• Low physical activity, with 74% of adolescents not meeting WHO recommendations.
• Poor dietary diversity, with excessive dependence on cereals.
• Inadequate nutrition and physical education in many schools.
• High cost of nutritious foods compared to processed foods.

IMPACT

• Reduced productivity due to adolescent stunting.
• Higher maternal and child health risks in adulthood.
• Poor cognitive development and academic performance.
• Increased psychological stress due to obesity and social stigma.

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

• Mission Poshan 2.0 – Supplementary nutrition and Iron-Folic Acid (IFA) support for adolescent girls.
• PM POSHAN – Mid-day meals for school children.
• Anaemia Mukt Bharat (WIFS) – Weekly Iron-Folic Acid supplementation for adolescents.
• FSSAI Measures – Mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labels and ban on sale/advertising of HFSS foods within 50 metres of schools.
• CBSE Sugar Boards – Display hidden sugar content in schools to improve nutrition awareness.