Experts for healthy eating initiatives in schools to combat childhood obesity

Health experts, education professionals, and policymakers today called on authorities to launch initiatives in schools to combat childhood obesity.

They made the call at a workshop organised by the ARK Foundation today (27 May) at the Platinum Grand Hotel in Banani, Dhaka.

The workshop served as a platform for key stakeholders, including representatives from government agencies, academic institutions, NGOs, media, and the community, to jointly identify priorities and co-design effective, sustainable strategies to prevent childhood obesity in school settings, reads a press statement.

During the event, Mahmuda Ali, health officer, Dhaka North City Corporation, highlighted the need for nutritious food charts in school canteens."We need to develop a strategy to provide nutritious tiffin in public schools, and engage parents, teachers, and stakeholders like Dhaka North for effective implementation."

Professor Rumana Huque, executive director of ARK Foundation said, "There is a lack of evidence on childhood obesity in Bangladesh schools in both urban and rural areas, to meet this gap, we need to conduct comprehensive survey with parents, teachers, and students to provide strong evidence-based insights for effective school nutrition policies."

Dr Md Jahurul Islam, program manager at NNHP & IMCI, stated that, "We must ensure that every child leaves their home early in the morning before school with a proper, homemade breakfast, which is crucial in combating obesity and promoting healthy eating habits."

Dr Jannatun Naiem of DGHS said, "Excessive screen time is a major contributor to childhood obesity and overweight issues, making parental guidance essential in promoting balanced activity and healthier habits."

Md Abu Sayeed Khan, headmaster of a Dhaka school, said limited playgrounds in the city, especially in schools, reduce children's physical activity, which to extent is also a crucial factor for the children's growing obesity. 

The consultation was part of ARK Foundation's ongoing work under the SCOLARS project (Schoolchildren and Caretakers Tackling Obesity in Latin America and South Asia), an international research initiative funded by the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The project aims to develop context-specific interventions that prioritise community involvement to prevent childhood obesity.