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Key Points

Public health experts are emphasizing the critical role of health literacy among Indian youth to prevent early onset of non-communicable diseases. The third International Conference on Public Health and Nutrition highlighted innovative strategies for adolescent health interventions. Experts like Dr. Zoya Ali Rizvi stressed the importance of creating a culture of preventive healthcare and self-care. The goal is to empower young people to take ownership of their health and build a healthier future for India.

Key Points: Youth Health Literacy Key to Preventing NCDs in India

  • Adolescent health crucial for long-term national wellness
  • Triple burden of malnutrition challenges developing countries
  • Preventive health approaches gaining national priority
  • School-based interventions can transform youth health outcomes
2 min read

Boosting health literacy, self-care in youth may help prevent early onset of NCDs in India: Experts

Experts highlight importance of early health intervention and self-care strategies for preventing non-communicable diseases among Indian adolescents

"We want a good, healthy, and strong India - Meera Satpathy, Sukarya Founder"

New Delhi, Oct 14

Developing a culture of health literacy and self-care in youth may help prevent the early onset of non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension obesity and cancers, in India, said public health experts here on Tuesday.

The experts spoke at the third International Conference on Public Health and Nutrition (ICPHN 2025), organised by non-profit Sukarya.

Dr. Zoya Ali Rizvi, Deputy Commissioner, Nutrition and Adolescent Health, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, underscored the national mission's focus on preventive health and behavioural change.

"We are witnessing a paradigm shift. Our effort is not just to treat illness but to prevent the early onset of non-communicable diseases by creating a culture of health literacy and self-care among young people," Rizvi said.

"The aim is to reach every state and every adolescent with programmes that don't just prescribe solutions but enable ownership of health," she added.

Speaking to IANS, Meera Satpathy, Founder & Chairperson, Sukarya, informed that the conference is focussed on "adolescent health", which includes their physical health, mental health, nutrition, behavioural problems, etc.

Calling adolescents "the biggest force in India", Satpathy urged the need to take care of their health early.

"Kishore and Kishoriyan have a lot of problems. When they are young, we want to take care of them. If they don't take care of their health, then it becomes a burden for life. We want a good, healthy, and strong India," she told IANS.

Bonita Sharma, Co-founder & CEO, Social Changemakers and Innovators (SOCHAI), Kathmandu, Nepal, spoke on the need to promote balanced nutrition.

"Currently, young people in developing countries are facing the triple burden of malnutrition. They are underweight, overweight, and obese. There is also the problem of anaemia, also known as hidden hunger or micronutrient deficiency," Sharma told IANS.

"The key solution that has been discussed so far is using school as an entry point to build a foundation for the health and well-being of adolescents," she said, adding the need to also focus on the implementation gap in policies.

"There are a lot of great policies and programmes, but when it comes to implementing them on the ground, there are a lot of challenges. Ensuring there is a strong monitoring mechanism is also an idea that has been discussed," Sharma said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Finally someone is talking about this! I developed diabetes at 28 because of poor lifestyle choices in college. Prevention is definitely better than cure. Hope this reaches every school and college across India.
A
Arjun K
Great concept but implementation is the real challenge. In my village, the school health program exists only on paper. We need better monitoring as mentioned in the article. Otherwise it's just another government scheme.
S
Sarah B
As someone working in public health, I appreciate the focus on adolescents. They're at that critical age where habits form for life. The triple burden of malnutrition is real - we see both underweight and overweight teens in the same communities.
V
Vikram M
Mental health should be given equal importance! Today's youth face tremendous pressure from studies, social media, and family expectations. A healthy mind leads to a healthy body. 👍
K
Karthik V
While I support this initiative, I hope they don't make it another boring textbook lesson. Health education needs to be practical - cooking classes, sports, mindfulness sessions. Make it engaging for the youth!

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