Experts at the 3rd International Conference on Public Health and Nutrition (ICPHN 2025), organised by Sukarya, have urged India to treat adolescence as its “second window of growth” and prioritise nutrition, education, and healthy food systems to prevent a looming public health and productivity crisis.
Citing NFHS-5 data, speakers highlighted that 56% of adolescent girls are anaemic, while nearly one in four adolescents is either underweight or overweight, reflecting the “double burden” of malnutrition.
Prof. K. Srinath Reddy, Chancellor of the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), said that neglecting adolescent nutrition would “lock in intergenerational poverty and poor health outcomes.” He called for stronger alignment among food, agriculture, and education policies, and regulation of ultra-processed and high-sugar foods.
Dr. Deepika Nayar from the World Bank termed investment in adolescent health a “moral and economic imperative,” noting that every dollar invested yields tenfold returns through higher productivity and reduced disease burden.
Representatives from GAIN, UNICEF, and IFPRI echoed the need for systemic food reforms, improved data tracking, and youth-led nutrition literacy. UNICEF’s Preetu Mishra warned that India faces a “triple burden” of undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies.
Conference Chair Dr. Sujeet Ranjan, CEO of United Way Delhi, emphasised multi-sectoral collaboration between health, education, agriculture, and urban policy.
Sukarya’s Founder and Chairperson, Meera Satpathy, said the organisation will integrate nutrition, gender equality, and digital innovation across its programmes to ensure that “every adolescent grows with nourishment, learns with confidence, and lives with dignity.”