Diabetes Is a Disease of Childhood Habits: Prevention Must Begin in Schools

On World Food Day, attention has been drawn to the growing burden of childhood obesity, unhealthy diets and early metabolic risks in India.World Food Day 2026 carries the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future.”

India’s Growing Diabetes Burden

• The ICMR-INDIAB study estimates that India has over 101 million people with diabetes and around 136 million with pre-diabetes.
• The National Family Health Survey indicates that about one in four children aged 5–19 years is overweight.
• More than half of urban adolescents consume ultra-processed foods, while many adult non-communicable diseases have roots in habits formed before age 15.

Why Schools Matter	Key Point
Early Habit Formation	Food, exercise and sleep habits formed in childhood strongly influence future diabetes risk.
Long Exposure	A child spends nearly 8,000 hours in school, making it a key place for health interventions.
Nutrition Education	Schools can promote healthy meals, breakfast habits and reduced sugary-drink intake.
Physical Activity	Regular sports and exercise can help prevent obesity and insulin resistance.
Health Awareness	Schools can integrate nutrition, wellbeing and lifestyle education with academics.
Long-Term Impact	Early prevention can reduce the future burden of Type 2 diabetes and other NCDs.

Economic Significance

• India’s direct economic burden from diabetes is projected to rise sharply in the coming years.
• Preventive investment in school health and nutrition can reduce future healthcare expenditure while improving productivity.

Tackling diabetes requires shifting attention from treatment in adulthood to prevention during childhood through healthy food, physical activity, adequate sleep and school-based behavioural changes.