The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged countries to promote healthy eating in schools, saying access to nutritious food helps children develop lifelong healthy dietary habits.
WHO disclosed this in a statement announcing a new global guideline on evidence-based policies and interventions for healthy school food environments. The guideline recommends a whole-school approach to ensure that foods and beverages available in schools are healthy and nutritious.
The organisation said rising childhood overweight and obesity, alongside persistent undernutrition, has placed schools at the centre of a global “double burden of malnutrition.” It noted that in 2025, about one in 10 school-aged children and adolescents—around 188 million worldwide—were living with obesity, surpassing the number of underweight children for the first time.
WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, said school food environments significantly influence children’s learning and long-term health. He stressed that getting nutrition right at school is essential for preventing future diseases and creating healthier adults.
Ghebreyesus noted that an estimated 466 million children worldwide receive school meals, but there is limited data on the nutritional quality of the food served. He said the guideline recommends setting standards to increase the availability and consumption of healthy foods, limit unhealthy options, and apply nudging interventions such as changes in food placement, presentation or pricing.
He added that strong monitoring and enforcement mechanisms are necessary for effective implementation. Data from WHO showed that as of October 2025, 104 member states had policies on healthy school food, though only 48 countries restrict the marketing of foods high in sugar, salt or unhealthy fats.
Ghebreyesus said WHO would support countries through technical assistance, knowledge-sharing and collaboration to implement the guideline.
