How can CBSEās Chinese Board initiative help protect childrenās vision
India faces a growing crisis as the rate of childhood obesity increases rapidly, rising risk of diabetes and vision problems. But is the CBSE Chinese board initiative enough to protect childrenās health?
In short
- Childhood obesity in India has increased by 126% in 15 years
- CBSE gave Chinese boards a mandate to raise awareness about sugar foods
- Consumption of high sugar associated with diabetic eye diseases in children
Indiaās childhood obesity rates increase and growing health crisis of vision.
According to the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), in the last 15 years, there has been an increase of 1.5% to 126% in 2005-06, with 3.4% in 2019-21.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) recently asked schools to set up Chinese boards. These display boards educate students about the hidden hazards of sugar and drinks.
This is a very important step that can also help in the protection of childrenās eyes, which are at risk due to early start diabetes.
In fact, for the protection of their vision, schools should also include regular eye checks in their health programs.
How diabetes affects a childās eye
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in 2022 there were about 95,600 children in India under 14 years of age with type 1 diabetes.
Millions of youth in India have type 1 diabetes, which later leads to serious vision issues in life. In this context, the latest CBSE directions are a positive step for all its schools.
The purpose of the effort is to teach children how to make informed nutritional options and promote long -term health benefits.
Excess sugar consumption has been added to the early beginning of pediatric obesity and type 2 diabetes. High sugar levels can also cause inflammation and oxidative stress, which can damage both retinal blood vessels and spoil eye damage.
In diabetic children, over time high blood sugar levels can be diabetic retinopathy, a condition that damages blood vessels in the retina. It can progress more severe problems such as diabetic macular edema (DME), where, the fluid is formed in the central part of the retina, affects the vision.
According to the American Academy of Opthalmology (AAO), children with high body mass index (BMI) levels are more likely to develop higher myopia than children with normal BMI levels.
Studies suggest that obesity may be associated with changes in insulin resistance and production of insulin such as insulin, which can increase the axial length of the eye, which is an important factor in Myopia.
In India, about 80 million children under the age of 15 are suffering from normal visual problems such as near and visionaryness. While initiatives like Chinese boards are raising awareness about the effects of excessive sugar intake, it is really necessary that regular eye examinations in all Indian schools require regular eye examination, which detect and address vision problems.
Regular eye exam required
In addition to ensuring proper diabetes care, schools should determine regular eye examination for children. For timely intervention and treatment, free eye check-up camps should be organized every six months to quickly detect vision problems. Schools should also educate students about the harmful effects of excessive screen time on their health.
In India, one of the major concerns among children is the increasing event of Myopia. According to the Association of Community Opthalmologist of India (ACOIN), about 23% of Indian school children are currently suffering from Myopia, and this number may increase by 50% by 2050 if preventive action is not taken soon.
In 2024 alone, more than 2,000 children received myopia treatment at the Surya Eye Institute.
After Kovid, when children were clinging to their mobile and tablet for online classes, the number of myopic cases is gradually increasing.
If necessary, wearing glasses, making a minor lifestyle adjustment, playing out for at least one hour each day, and adopting healthy routines, can greatly increase the vision of children and cut the screen usage.
In fact, to protect the vision of children, action must follow awareness campaigns. While the CBSEās Chinese board initiative is timely and admirable, it should be integrated into a comprehensive school health policy that includes regular eye examination and screen time education.
In addition, parents should also encourage their children to follow a healthy and nutritious diet, engage in more external sports and activities, and emphasize the importance of eye care in their daily lives.
