Maharashtra school junk food ban won’t curb childhood obesity alone: Doctors tell you what to do alongside

6 min readJul 31, 2026 07:36 AM IST Nearly all experts emphasise that restricting junk food in schools alone will not reverse India’s childhood obesity trend. (Source: Express Archives)The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) decision to ban the sale of chocolates, chips, sugary drinks, deep-fried snacks and other foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) in schools and within a 50-metre radius of campuses has been welcomed by doctors as an important step towards tackling childhood obesity. However, health experts say the measure will have a meaningful impact only if it is backed by healthier food choices at home, nutrition education and regular physical activity. On Wednesday, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the order, which applies to government, ai