The Department of Food and Nutrition, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), organised an interactive session on “Empowering Tomorrow’s Research in Nutrition and Global Health” on the occasion of World Health Day. All the faculty members and postgraduate students of the department attended the interactive session, held in collaboration with Nutrition Society of India-Ludhiana Chapter.

Dr Kiran Grover, Head, Department of Food and Nutrition, elaborated that World Health Day is celebrated on April 7 every year to mark the anniversary of the founding of World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. She further added that this year’s theme of World Health Day is “My Health, My Right” with the focus to ensure optimal health of everyone, everywhere.

Dr Dipti Dev, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies and Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska- Lincoln, USA graced the occasion as keynote speaker along with Ms Tirna Purkait, Doctoral Student, Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska- Lincoln, USA.

Dr Dev in her address highlighted various factors such as insufficient parental guidance on nutrition, sedentary lifestyle habits, and limited access to nutritious foods emerged as prominent contributors to the obesity epidemic among children. She cautioned that the current trajectory poses grave health risks, with childhood obesity linked to a plethora of chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular ailments, and mental health disorders. Further, she spoke about comprehensive strategies to promote healthy behaviours during early childhood such as enhanced parental education on nutrition and physical activity, improved access to affordable, nutritious foods, and the implementation of robust school wellness programs.

Ms Purkait shed light on food and nutrition assistance programs, fostering an equitable early care and education food environment to combat childhood obesity. She added that this pioneering initiative has been launched to enhance the food environment within early care and education settings; it aims to establish a more equitable landscape by ensuring that all children, regardless of socio-economic background, have access to nutritious foods during their formative years. She guided the students about writing research based manuscripts and steps to consider for its publication in high impact journals.

Dr Kiran Bains, Dean, College of Community Science, said that by prioritizing early intervention and fostering supportive environments for healthy development, the tide of childhood obesity can be reversed and the well-being of future generations can be safeguarded.

Dr Renuka Aggarwal, Scientist, Department of Food and Nutrition, proposed a vote of thanks. The international scientists also visited the Laboratory Nursery School and day care centre in the College, and interacted with the faculty of Human Development and Family Studies.