WHO Urges Schools: Provide Healthy Meals to Students Now!

MADRID (EUROPA PRESS) – The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged nations to advance policies ensuring that the food and beverages provided in schools are healthy and nutritious. To aid this, the WHO has released a guide containing evidence-based recommendations to enhance school food environments.

“The food children eat at school and the environments influencing their dietary habits can significantly impact their learning and have long-term effects on their health and wellbeing,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who affirmed that proper nutrition in schools could prevent future diseases.

The WHO explained that dietary habits are formed from childhood, and considering that children spend a substantial part of their day at school, it becomes a pivotal setting for instilling lifelong healthy eating habits.

An estimated 466 million children globally receive school meals, but the WHO cautions that data on the nutritional quality of these meals is “limited”.

In the published guideline, the international body recommends setting standards to increase the availability, purchase, and consumption of healthy foods and beverages in schools, while restricting access to unhealthy options.

Additionally, it supports implementing incentive interventions to encourage children to choose, buy, and consume healthier foods and beverages. These interventions might involve changes in the location, presentation, or pricing of food options available to children.

1 IN 10 CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS ARE OBESE

The WHO has warned that childhood overweight and obesity rates are rising globally, while malnutrition continues to be a persistent issue. By 2025, about one in ten school-aged children and adolescents worldwide are expected to be obese, totaling 188 million minors. This number for the first time exceeds those who are underweight.

In this scenario, the WHO emphasizes that schools play a crucial role in addressing these issues. However, it pointed out that policies alone are not enough. Monitoring and enforcement mechanisms must be implemented to ensure that guidelines are applied effectively and consistently in schools.

According to the WHO Global Database on the Implementation of Nutrition and Food Policies, as of October 2025, 104 member states had policies on healthy school food, nearly three-quarters of which included mandatory criteria for guiding school meal composition. However, only 48 countries had policies restricting the marketing of foods high in sugar, salt, or unhealthy fats.

The WHO will assist member states in adapting and implementing the guideline through technical support, knowledge sharing, and collaboration.