NEW DELHI: Rich in calories but low in nutritive value, "junk food" is gaining popularity among school children and adolescents. However, there is no data on the extent of their consumption of such food.

In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said there was worldwide concern about the increasing consumption of highly refined food with only energy and little or no vitamins and minerals.

There is no specific definition for "junk food" but the phrase is used to denote such food which has high levels of calories and little enzyme producing vitamins and minerals. When such food is consumed, the body is required to produce its own enzymes to convert these calories into usable energy. This is not desirable, as the enzyme-producing function in our body should be reserved for the performance of vital metabolic reactions, Mr. Ramadoss said.

There are studies to indicate that there was a positive correlation between consumption of foods with empty calories and chronic degenerative diseases, as well as hypertension, obesity, cardio-vascular problems and glucose intolerance.

A study conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) — Department of Science and Technology (DST) trial — in 2002 found that the consumption of "junk food" was increasing in schools and among teenagers.

The same study had shown that this trend and associated lifestyle factors in the urban adolescent and young adult population had resulted in the increase in non-communicable diseases.

The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry is attempting to create awareness against the harmful effects of such food and has prepared some Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material asking people to avoid consuming junk food. The information material has been circulated to all the States and displayed and distributed during health fairs.

The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) has developed dietary guidelines for people, where it has been suggested that ready-to-eat food should be consumed judiciously.

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