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FAQ’s

Important Topics

NULRISC is for students, parents, teachers, institutes (like schools and colleges), clinicians, and program managers (for health programs such as RBSK/RKSK/etc.). Designed to be user-friendly, sustainable, and evidence-driven, NULRISC aims to empower institutions to take informed action against obesogenic behaviours and environments
- NULRISC helps students find out if their diet behaviours and physical activity patterns put them at risk of obesity, and whether they need to make changes in their lifestyles. You can input your data manually by answering our questionnaire, and you can also connect your smart devices (like your Fitbit or Samsung smartwatch) and automatically provide your health information.
- If you’re a parent, NULRISC is a great way to keep an eye on your child’s health and wellbeing, while also teaching your kids how to improve their lifestyles.
- If you’re a teacher, NULRISC provides you with information about your classes’ overall health, and it can provide insights on what changes you can make so that your class can become more healthy.
- As a school or college, NULRISC can provide you key insights on how your institution is performing when it comes to students’ wellbeing compared to other schools & colleges across the country. Your institution can help the ICMR and Government of India in reducing our country’s obesity epidemic.
NULRISC draws from a variety of sources to assess a user’s obesity, such as self-reported anthropometric measurements, measurements from third-party apps, and from connected devices (like smartwatches or fitness bands).
The user’s risk of non-communicable diseases is assessed via a combination of the user’s responses to the structured questionnaires, data derived from connected devices & third-party apps, and ICMR-NIN’s own algorithms to bring together these different sources of information
Yes, this app is aimed at helping you monitor your health throughout your school-going years, and allow you to see how your habits and environment are affecting your body and mind.
NULRISC does provide you with personalised advice using AI based on your input (via the questionnaire & your devices), and other information such as your institute, teacher, parents etc.
NO, NULRISC does NOT replace a doctor. NULRISC is aimed to help you track your health and provide you with risk assessment. It does not give you treatment options or medical advice. Please consult a doctor for any concerns.
The data provided by you is stored securely on servers owned, controlled, operated by, and located in ICMR-NIN (Hyderabad, Telangana).
Your data is only visible to you, and what you choose to share to your parents/teachers. Only an anonymised version of your data will be visible to the research team and ICMR.
Only the information you wish to share with your parents or your teachers will be shared to them. Your results may be presented as a part of an aggregate (such as section/class/school/district/etc.) but your personal information will not be visible.
Your data is stored on secured ICMR servers in an encrypted format, which means that no one but you can view your data.
You can delete the app and your profile at any time. Your data may be stored in an anonymised format for government research purposes.
NULRISC is an integrated mHealth-based system that provides a digital, validated, and scalable platform for real-time monitoring of nutrition and lifestyle risk factors at the individual and institutional level
Yes. During puberty, your body goes through growth spurts and hormonal changes. Some weight changes are normal. What matters is long-term healthy habits, not short-term fluctuations
Obesity is a condition where the body has too much fat. It happens when the calories you take in are more than the calories your body uses. Doctors assess obesity using measures like BMI, waist circumference, and body composition.
Obesity doesn’t have one single cause. It results from a mix of:
• Eating more high-calorie foods than your body needs
• Low physical activity
• Stress, lack of sleep
• Genetics and family history
• Hormonal changes
• Easy access to junk food
• Screen time and sitting for long periods
• Some medicines
Obesity increases the risk of:
• High blood sugar (Diabetes)
• High blood pressure (Hypertension)
• High cholesterol
• Fatty liver
• Joint and back problems
• Hormonal imbalances
• Sleep problems
• Reduced fitness
• Mental health issues like low self-esteem or feeling stressed about body image
Your surroundings strongly influence what you eat. Some examples:
• Living near many fast-food outlets or stores selling junk food
• Limited access to fresh fruits or vegetables
• School/college canteens that mostly sell fried items
• Busy schedules making it hard to cook
• Friends or family who prefer eating outside frequently
These factors can make unhealthy choices easier and healthy choices harder.
Mental health and eating are closely linked.
• Stress, anxiety, or sadness may lead to overeating or skipping meals
• Emotional eating can make you choose high-sugar or high-fat foods
• Poor mental health may reduce motivation to eat regularly or exercise
Getting support for mental health often improves eating patterns.
When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol, a hormone that:
• Increases cravings for sugary and fatty foods
• Makes the body store more fat, especially around the stomach
Stress can also lead to poor sleep and less physical activity — both increase obesity risk.
Substances like alcohol, tobacco, or drugs can harm nutrition by:
• Increasing cravings for junk food
• Reducing appetite for real, nutritious meals
• Disrupting sleep
• Slowing metabolism
Alcohol especially adds “empty calories” and can lead to weight gain.
Obesity can affect hormones and reproductive health.
In young people it may cause:
• Irregular periods
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in girls
• Low energy and reduced stamina
• Body-image concerns affecting confidence and relationships
Healthy weight improves overall sexual and reproductive health.
People aged 15–24 need at least 60 minutes of moderate activity daily, like brisk walking, cycling, dancing, or sports. Strength training 2–3 times a week is also helpful.
A healthy plate usually includes:
• ½ vegetables and fruits
• ¼ whole grains (millets, brown rice, chapati)
• ¼ protein (dal, chana, eggs, milk, fish, chicken, soy)
Plus plenty of water and limited sugary or fried foods.
Long hours on phones, laptops, or gaming reduce activity and increase snacking. Poor sleep from screen time also leads to weight gain. Regular breaks and screen-free time help
Yes. Poor sleep affects hormones that control hunger, making you eat more. Sleeping 7–9 hours daily improves metabolism, mood, and weight control.
NCDs are long-term diseases that don’t spread from person to person. Common ones include diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and cancers. Many are linked to lifestyle factors.
Diabetes happens when your body cannot use sugar properly. This leads to high blood sugar levels. The most common type of diabetes (Type 2) is strongly linked to weight, diet, and inactivity.
Extra body fat makes your body resistant to insulin (the hormone that controls blood sugar). Over time, blood sugar rises and leads to diabetes. Fat stored around the stomach increases this risk the most.
Hypertension means high blood pressure. This makes the heart work harder and increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage.
Extra fat increases strain on the heart and blood vessels. It also causes hormonal changes that raise blood pressure. Even small amounts of weight loss help improve blood pressure.
Yes. Though more common in adults, increasing numbers of young people are developing early diabetes and high blood pressure, especially when obesity, inactivity, or family history are present.
Many people have no symptoms.
Possible signs include: Excessive thirst, frequent urination, tiredness, headaches, blurry vision.
Regular screening is important because early stages often go unnoticed
You can reduce your risk by:
• Keeping a healthy weight
• Eating nutritious meals
• Staying physically active
• Getting enough sleep
• Avoiding tobacco, alcohol, and drugs
• Managing stress
• Getting regular health check-ups
Small habits now give big benefits later.
Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions (high waist size, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and abnormal cholesterol) that together increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
If your parents or grandparents have diabetes or hypertension, your risk is higher. But lifestyle factors still play a major role & healthy habits can significantly lower your risk.
Affordable healthy choices include:
• Millets, rice, chapati
• Dal, chana, rajma
• Eggs
• Seasonal fruits
• Vegetables
• Home-cooked meals
Avoiding packaged foods saves money and improves nutrition.
A healthy lifestyle means eating well, being active, sleeping well, avoiding risky substances, managing stress, and taking care of both physical and mental health.
Start small:
• 10–15 minutes of walking daily
• Stretching
• Light home exercises
Increase time and intensity gradually. Pick activities you enjoy (dance/sports/cycling/yoga/etc.).
Keep an eye out for:
• Total calories
• Sugar content
• Saturated fats
• Fibre
• Serving size
Choose foods with lower sugar and fat, and higher fibre
Try:
• Cutting down slowly
• Choosing fruits when craving sweets
• Drinking more water
• Swapping fried foods for roasted or steamed options
• Planning meals in advance
Balance is better than strict rules
Physical activity like exercise or sports, hobbies (like music or art) can be great ways to reduce stress levels. Proper sleep is a very important factor, so don’t stay up late! Meditation, deep breathing, taking short breaks during work/study can be useful tools to manage your stress. Talking to friends or family is also very important, and if the stress feels overwhelming, seek help from a counsellor
Maintaining a consistent bedtime and creating a relaxing bedtime routine are important to improving sleep. You should also aim to reduce screen time before bed, as well as avoiding caffeine in the evening.
• Start small and stay consistent
• Set realistic goals
• Track your progress
• Reward small achievements
• Get support from friends or family
• Focus on long-term benefits, not quick fixes
Currently, internet is required to use the app. However, future updates are being planned to allow offline usage.
You may have to update your information once a year.
Unfortunately, the NULRISC app requires that your name be entered. As NULRISC is an app aimed at institutions like schools and colleges, your name is required when your teacher or principal creates your profile for you.
If you get a high-risk score, we recommend that you follow the information provided in the app, which aims to reduce the risk of obesity. You may consider consulting a health professional
This data is being collected for the NULRISC project which aims to reduce childhood obesity and decrease the risks of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension etc.
Participation involves minimal or no risk to you, with the only potential risk being that you may find some questions sensitive.