NEW DELHI -- The Delhi city government has banned fatty foods and aerated drinks in schools in the Indian capital over concerns about increasing obesity among schoolchildren, a report said Saturday.

The decision to ban junk food was taken following studies which showed that the children developed high blood pressure at a very young age because of them, DPA quoted the Indian Express newspaper as reporting.

The ban will mainly affect private schools as most government schools do not have canteen facilities.

Officials of the City Directorate of Education said government schools would start canteens soon and no junk food would be sold in them.

The paper said the ban order however, does not mention shops selling fast food and aerated drinks near the schools.

According to a study conducted by the Delhi Medical Association (DMA) and Indian Medical Association some 27 percent of Delhi schoolchildren are obese and 35 percent of people living in the city are on the heavier side because of eating habits.

According to the study, the consumption of fat and sugar in India has gone up by 20 percent and 40 percent respectively over the last 50 years while intake of fiber has come down by 50 percent.

The willingness of people to exercise has also dropped by 70 percent, DMA figures said.