LEBANON — Nearly one in four students in Lebanon’s public schools is overweight or obese, while more than half fail to meet global dietary recommendations, according to a national report released jointly by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE), the World Food Programme (WFP), and UNICEF.
The National Nutrition and Food Environment Report in Lebanese Public Schools examines students’ nutritional status, eating habits, and access to healthy food. The assessment was conducted between May and July 2024 across 528 schools and involved more than 6,700 students, highlighting the challenges facing children amid Lebanon’s ongoing economic and humanitarian crises.
Poor Dietary Diversity and High Consumption of Unhealthy Foods
The report identifies a double burden of malnutrition, with overweight and obesity occurring alongside inadequate dietary diversity.
Among morning-shift students, 20% were classified as overweight and 11% as obese. In afternoon shifts, the respective rates stood at 14% and 9%.
Dietary habits also raised concerns. More than half of the surveyed students (57%) did not meet the Global Dietary Recommendations threshold, while the average Individual Dietary Diversity Score reached only 3.6 out of nine food groups.
More than one-third of students reported eating no vegetables, and over two-thirds had consumed no fruit on the day before the survey. Older students recorded even lower dietary diversity scores.
The findings also point to widespread consumption of foods and beverages high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. Sweetened beverages were consumed by 58% of students, while 38% reported consuming sweet foods. Nearly one-third regularly consumed salty snacks or fast food.
Economic Hardship Limits Access to Nutritious Food
Financial pressures remain a major obstacle to healthy eating among schoolchildren.
According to the report, transportation costs account for up to 75% of household education spending, leaving families with less money available for food and other essential needs. Around 12% of surveyed students arrived at school without a snack or money to purchase food.
The school environment presents additional challenges. Despite national nutrition guidelines restricting the sale of unhealthy products in school kiosks, 63% of schools with operating food outlets sold prohibited items, including chocolate, chips, and sugary drinks.
Students are also exposed to junk food marketing outside school premises, particularly in urban areas such as Beirut, further increasing the availability and visibility of unhealthy food choices.
Limited Opportunities for Physical Activity
The report also highlights gaps in physical education, with 64% of surveyed schools lacking a physical education teacher.
Insufficient infrastructure and limited access to specialized teachers restrict opportunities for students to participate in physical education and extracurricular activities, adding another challenge to efforts to promote healthier lifestyles.
Report Calls for Coordinated Action
Minister of Education and Higher Education Rima Karami stressed that school nutrition should be treated as an investment in public health and educational equity.
“A child's future is shaped not only by what they learn, but also by the conditions in which they grow,” Karami said, emphasizing the need to ensure that children have the conditions and opportunities to thrive.
The report identifies several priority areas, including expanding access to nutritious school meals, strengthening nutrition education, enforcing regulations on food sold in school kiosks, limiting exposure to unhealthy food marketing, and improving physical education facilities.
It also highlights the importance of involving caregivers and linking school feeding programmes with broader health, social protection, and food security initiatives.
The findings underscore the need for coordinated action among government institutions, schools, families, and international partners to improve children's diets and ensure that economic hardship does not prevent students from accessing nutritious food and opportunities for healthy development.
