British News Agency

Emphasizing that schools play a critical role in helping children develop healthy eating habits, the WHO released its new global guideline. According to the guideline, countries should adopt a “whole-school” approach, ensuring that all foods and beverages offered and accessible within the school environment are healthy and nutritious.

According to WHO data, in 2025 one in ten school-aged children worldwide lives with obesity, while undernutrition remains a major challenge. About 466 million children benefit from school meals, but the nutritional quality of the foods provided is still not sufficiently known.

The guideline recommends that schools do the following:

Increase access to, purchase, and consumption of healthy foods and beverages; limit unhealthy foods; and implement “nudging” interventions that encourage children to choose healthy options. For example, the placement, presentation, or pricing of foods can be adjusted.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “The foods consumed at school and the environments that shape them can have a profound impact on learning and determine lifelong health outcomes. Getting nutrition right in schools is critical to preventing future disease and building healthier adults.”