Maharashtra school junk food ban alone won't solve childhood obesity, doctors say

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered a ban on the sale of chocolates, chips, sugary drinks, deep-fried snacks and other foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) in schools and within a 50-metre radius of campuses. The order, issued on Wednesday, applies to government, aided and private schools, and requires them to remove unhealthy foods while encouraging the availability of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pulses and dairy products.

Doctors have welcomed the move as an important step towards tackling childhood obesity, but they caution that the ban alone will not be enough. Health experts say the measure will have a meaningful impact only if combined with healthier food choices at home, nutrition education and regular physical activity.

The policy comes amid growing concern over childhood obesity in India. According to the World Obesity Atlas 2026, an estimated 41 million Indian children aged 5-19 years are overweight or living with obesity. In Maharashtra, the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) found that 4.3 per cent of children under five were overweight, compared with the national average of 3.4 per cent.

Dr Tushar Palve, medical superintendent at Cama and Albless Hospital, said the ban directly targets the three biggest dietary contributors to childhood obesity: excess fat, salt and sugar. "Foods high in fat contribute to weight gain and fatty liver disease in children. High salt intake increases the risk of hypertension, which we are now increasingly seeing even in children. Sugary beverages such as soft drinks cause sharp insulin spikes, promote fat storage and increase the risk of diabetes," he said. "Banning these foods from schools removes the biggest source of all three during the six to seven hours children spend on campus."

Schools are seen as critical spaces for shaping lifelong eating habits. Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker, a bariatric surgeon at LH Hiranandani Hospital, Saifee Hospital and Namaha Hospitals, called childhood obesity "one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time." She added: "Schools play a vital role in shaping lifelong eating habits. When chips, sugary drinks and ultra-processed snacks are easily available, they often become the default choice for children. By making healthier foods the easier option, schools can encourage better dietary habits during the formative years."

Dr Anish Pillai, lead consultant in Neonatology and Paediatrics at Motherhood Hospitals, Kharghar, said restricting the availability of these foods while promoting nutritious alternatives can help children develop healthier dietary habits from an early age.

Nutrition experts argue the policy could shift what children routinely consume during school hours. "These unhealthy snacks had become the preferred and convenient option for school-going children because of their easy availability and the lack of healthier ready-to-eat alternatives," said Sonal Chandalia, Consultant Clinical Nutrition at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre.

Some experts believe the scale of the policy makes it one of the most significant public health interventions for children. Dr Rahul Verma, Director of Paediatrics and Neonatology at Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, noted that the order covers more than 1.08 lakh schools and nearly two crore children. However, he stressed that implementation and enforcement will be key. "The government must ensure that schools comply and that healthier food options are actually available and affordable. At the same time, parents need to reinforce these choices at home," he said.

Doctors also emphasise the need for regular physical activity and nutrition education. "A ban on junk food is a positive step, but it cannot solve the problem alone. Children need to be educated about balanced diets, and families need to create environments that support healthy eating. Without these complementary measures, the impact of the ban may remain limited," said Dr Palve.

The FDA order is seen as a proactive move, but its success will depend on whether schools, parents and the wider community work together to promote healthier lifestyles for children.