Ahmedabad: Rising cases of diabetes among schoolchildren have prompted the Gujarat government to take a new preventive step: all schools across the state have now been instructed to install “Sugar Boards” on their campuses. The directive, issued by the Gujarat Education Board through a circular to District Education Officers (DEOs), is part of a broader push to educate students about the health risks linked to high sugar consumption.
According to officials, the number of children diagnosed with type-2 diabetes has increased significantly in recent years, largely due to poor dietary habits and excessive intake of sugary foods and beverages. Health experts have raised concerns that children between the ages of 4 and 18 are consuming far more sugar than recommended. Currently, children aged 4 to 10 get about 13% of their daily calories from sugar, while teens between 11 and 18 average around 15%. Ideally, this figure should be closer to 5%.
To address the issue, schools will now be required to place sugar boards in visible areas, such as near canteens or classrooms. These boards will display information on how much sugar is present in commonly consumed snacks and drinks, the daily recommended limits for different age groups, and the long-term health risks associated with excessive sugar consumption. The boards are also expected to encourage students to make healthier food choices.
In addition to the signage, schools have been asked to conduct regular seminars and workshops to further educate students about nutrition and lifestyle-related diseases. The initiative reflects growing concern among education and health authorities over the dietary patterns of children and aims to create lasting awareness that extends beyond the classroom.
This state-level campaign follows a similar advisory issued by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) earlier this year, which had urged schools under its jurisdiction to adopt measures for curbing sugar intake among students. With Gujarat now making it mandatory for all schools, the move could signal a broader shift toward prioritizing preventive health education in the school system.