Introduction
Obesity is a global public health problem, with significant implications for chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over the past three decades, global obesity rates have risen sharply from 2% to 8% among children (aged 5–19) and from 7% to 16% among adults (18 years old or older).
In Brazil, from 2006 to 2019, the obesity rate nearly doubled from 11.8% to 20.3%. Based on the 2024 World Obesity Atlas, 34% of Brazilian children were obese or overweight in 2020, and, alarmingly, projections indicate that, by 2035, 50% of Brazilian children may be obese or overweight. Additionally, the 2025 World Obesity Atlas demonstrated that 68% of the Brazilian population is overweight and, among those, 31% are obese.
During childhood, the body experiences significant physical growth, biological maturation, and the development of cognitive and motor skills — processes shaped by both biopsychological and environmental factors. This stage is also marked by intense brain development, which lays the foundation for lifelong health and learning. Thus, the early years are critical for success in school, work, and society. When healthy eating habits and other positive behaviors are not consolidated throughout childhood, it can compromise the ability to prevent and manage future illnesses. Therefore, children need to be introduced to healthy food choices at an early age so that they grow up to become adults who make these healthy choices.
In this sense, preventing obesity deeply intersects with education. As environments where children spend a significant portion of their time, schools play a pivotal role in shaping these habits. Autonomy regarding nutrition depends, in part, on developing healthy food habits from childhood.As such, this Expert Column examines public policies to address childhood obesity and nutritional autonomy building in Brazil, focusing on schools as key arenas for intervention.
The Brazilian legal and constitutional framework not only allows but also requiresState action on this matter. Under Brazil’s Constitution, health, education, and child protection are social rights, and children’s health and nutrition are absolute priorities. Internationally, Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child recognizes every child’s right to the highest attainable standard of health and calls on States to adopt concrete actions to reduce child mortality, combat malnutrition, and ensure access to adequate food, clean water, and health education.
Brazil has 79,286 basic education schools, with 59.6% in the public municipal network and 23.7% in the private sector. For public basic education, Law No. 11.947/2009 specifically addresses school feeding and nutrition by creating the National School Feeding Program (in Portuguese, PNAE). PNAE aims to provide federal funds for proper nutrition during the school year in public schools, supporting students’ health, learning, and healthy eating habits. However, this Expert Column will focus on private schools, which are not covered by the PNAE and often lack specific nutrition-related initiatives.
Challenges in Establishing Healthy Habits in Private Schools
In private schools, meals usually come from two main sources: food brought from home and items purchased at canteens, which often offer unhealthy food options. Even though healthy items may be available, it is up to the student to choose between a balanced meal or a more attractive, possibly ultra-processed, option that is high in sugar and fats.
Consequently, while healthy habits and nutrition may be discussed in the classroom, schools continue to offer the opposite in practice. This raises a crucial question: Is it reasonable to expect students to prioritize healthy foods over what they have learned to enjoy and become accustomed to? Therefore, public policies must address this problem, considering that children are introduced to unhealthy and hyperpalatable foods from an early age. As discussed below, Brazil has been taking steps to address this issue.
Public Policy Approaches to School Nutrition
While the family also plays a fundamental role in shaping children’s eating habits, several structural and social barriers — such as limited time available due to the caregivers’ work and socioeconomic status — often prevent the consistent implementation of healthy practices at home. In these cases, schools are even more vital in promoting and reinforcing the values of health and nutrition.
Public policies can help align individual behavior with major public health goals. Public policies attempt to make people perform actions they would not otherwise undertake. In the context of school nutrition, extensive research highlights complementary approaches that have proven effective. This Expert Column will focus on how three of these approaches can enhance nutrition in private schools:
1. Authority-based policies
These involve regulations backed by legitimate authorities that require, prohibit, or allow certain actions. A clear example is regulating the sale and advertisement of food in school canteens, which would limit access to ultra-processed products. Reinforcing these policies requires defined rules, oversight, and sanctions, making the role of public administration essential.
2. Capacity-building policies
This course of action provides information, training, education, and resources to enable individuals or groups to make decisions. In schools, efforts should target students and their caregivers. Activities, such as workshops with experts and on shared experiences, can help caregivers support healthy eating at home. For children who do not fully control their food choices, consistent reinforcement of nutritional education across all school years is key, accompanied by coherent food options in the school setting — moving beyond occasional lessons to create lasting habits.
3. Nudges
As defined by Thaler and Sustein, “nudges” are any aspect of the decision-making architecture that predictably alters individuals’ behavior without prohibiting any option or making substantial modifications to their economic incentives. Since food choices are often driven by taste, appearance, or hunger, nudges gently guide students toward better food choices. Some nudges have shown positive effects on food selection positive effects on food selection, such as applying verbal encouragement, serving sliced fruits, and placing labels on the food, either containing the basic description of the food or other messages, like “mix for superheroes.”
Concrete Initiatives in Brazilian Private Schools
Brazil has been implementing legal measures across different levels of government (municipal, regional, and federal) to restrict the availability and promotion of unhealthy foods in schools, including private ones. Some examples include:
1. Marketing prohibition within schools’ environments
A regional law, No. 14.045/2018, bans marketing communication within basic education institutions in the State of Bahia. In 2021, the law faced challenges before the Supreme Federal Court (STF), with the Court ultimately upholding the law — a significant step in emphasizing the legitimacy of protecting children from persuasive advertising in school environments.
2. Regulation of food sales in schools’ canteens
The municipal law, No. 7.987/2023,prohibits the sale and distribution of ultra-processed foods and beverages in both public and private preschools and elementary schools as part of a broader effort to fight childhood obesity in the city of Rio de Janeiro. It includes a system of penalties for non-compliance, including a daily fine of R$1,500 for private schools until the issue is resolved.
3. National proposal to regulate the sale and marketing of ultra-processed products in schools
Currently pending before the Senate, the federal bill, No. 4.501/2020, requires canteens to offer at least three healthy snack options daily — focusing on health benefits, local food traditions, and sustainability. Moreover, this bill explicitly bans fried preparations.
Conclusion
Obesity is a public health issue that requires preventive measures focused on fostering healthy habits from a young age. Autonomous and informed dietary choices are fundamental ways to reduce prolonged exposure to unhealthy foods during childhood and to ensure access to accurate nutritional information. Moreover, schools play a central role in children’s daily lives, making them an environment that offers a strategic and effective setting for Brazil to implement public policies that promote health and long-term well-being.
The initiatives described illustrate a growing commitment to protecting children’s health in Brazil — through school-centered food regulations and authority-based tools as a relevant alternative. From municipal laws to national legislative proposals and Supreme Court rulings, the country has begun to build a legal framework that restricts the presence of ultra-processed foods in educational settings. Although the effectiveness of these measures depends on their implementation and monitoring, they represent important steps toward aligning school environments with public health goals and the constitutional duty to prioritize children’s well-being.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not reflect the views of the O’Neill Institute.
