Nutritionist Dr Doddy Izwardy has stated that the Free Nutritious\nMeal (MBG) programme plays a broader strategic role beyond fulfilling\ndaily nutritional needs. The programme is considered a crucial\ninstrument in preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) from school\nage.<\/p>\n
The statement was made by Doddy while appearing as a government\nexpert in a judicial review hearing of Law Number 17 of 2025 at the\nConstitutional Court in Jakarta on Wednesday (1\/7). The hearing examined\nprovisions for placing the MBG programme budget within the education\nbudget of the 2026 State Budget.<\/p>\n
Doddy revealed that Indonesia is still facing a major challenge in\nthe form of a double burden of malnutrition among school-age children.\nThis condition includes the prevalence of stunting as well as problems\nof being overweight or obese.<\/p>\n
\"The policy implication in this case is that schoolchildren\ninterventions are positioned as a nutrition and NCD prevention agenda.\nThis is the emphasis we are conveying,\" said the Chairman of the\nIndonesian Nutritionists Association (Persagi).<\/p>\n
Based on data from the Indonesian Health Survey and Basic Health\nResearch (Riskesdas), the prevalence of stunting in the 5\u201312 age group\nreaches 23.6 percent. On the other hand, the rate of overweight and\nobesity in the same age group is around 20 percent.<\/p>\n
Doddy warned that both extreme conditions carry a high risk of\ntriggering non-communicable diseases in the future. Moreover, school-age\nchildren are in a phase of intensive physical, psychological, and\nneurological development.<\/p>\n
\"Malnutrition can hinder the development of brain structure and\nfunction, affecting children\u2019s learning ability, concentration, memory,\nand academic achievement,\" he explained.<\/p>\n
In his presentation, Doddy also highlighted the gap in nutritional\nstatus between urban and rural areas. The prevalence of stunting is\nhigher in rural areas, while cases of overweight or obesity are more\ndominant in urban areas.<\/p>\n
This condition is exacerbated by low physical activity among\nschoolchildren, suboptimal clean living behaviours, and high exposure to\nunhealthy foods high in sugar, salt, and fat.<\/p>\n
However, he noted a positive trend from the implementation of the MBG\nprogramme. Over 16 months, the programme has shown an increase in fruit\nand vegetable consumption among students, which in turn encourages the\nformation of healthier eating patterns.<\/p>\n
Concluding his testimony, Doddy stressed that the MBG programme\nshould not be viewed narrowly as merely food aid or an ordinary lunch.\nHe emphasised that the programme is a long-term investment in human\ncapital development.<\/p>\n
\"School nutrition programmes should not be positioned merely as food\nor meal assistance, but as a cross-sectoral investment in human\ncapital,\" he asserted.<\/p>\n
This step is aligned with efforts to achieve the Sustainable\nDevelopment Goals (SDGs), particularly in the aspects of eradicating\nhunger, improving health, enhancing the quality of education, and\nfostering future national economic growth.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nutritionist-free-nutritious-meal-programme-effective-in-preventing-non-communicable-diseases-1782924684", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }