Maharashtra School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse on Wednesday expressed concern over the growing risk of Type 2 diabetes among children, attributing it to the high consumption of sweets and sugary beverages readily available near schools.
Responding in writing to a question raised by Shiv Sena MLA Kishore Patil and others during a legislative assembly session, Bhuse noted that the central government had issued a communication to all states on July 1. The advisory highlighted a rise in childhood obesity, largely driven by poor dietary habits.
In an effort to address the issue, Bhuse said schools will now display a ‘sugar board’ to educate students about the health risks associated with excessive sugar intake. The state education board has already instructed all schools under its purview to install these boards.
Type 2 diabetes, he explained, occurs when the body fails to produce enough insulin or cannot use it effectively, resulting in elevated blood sugar levels.