Food Pharmer Revant Himatsingka Urges Students to Become 'Health Literate' at Marwadi University

Popularly known as Food Pharmer, Revant Himatsingka gave a keynote address at Marwadi University, where he pointed out that there is an increased need for health literacy amongst the young population of India and asked why the health literacy of one of the most educated generations in the country is lacking.

Revant Himatsingka, popularly known as FoodPharmer, is one of India’s leading health advocates. Ranked #15 in Forbes India’s "Top 100 Digital Stars" 2024, he is known for making clean eating and food-label awareness engaging, honest, and viral. His campaigns like ‘Sugar Boards’ and ‘Oil Boards’ were adopted by schools across India, and his 2023 video on Bournvita sparked national conversations and regulatory action. Starting as an author and consultant, Revant now runs his movement independently, calling out misleading food practices and pushing for transparency in the FMCG industry. 

In his presentation at Marwadi University, Himatsingka spoke about the difference between being educated and being health literate, which means that while academic knowledge may not necessarily lead to informed food choices or understanding of nutrition.

Students and attendees were addressed by him, and he stated that although people have more access to education, they still do not know what they are eating or how their dietary habits can impact their long-term health.

Himatsingka also spoke on the increasing burden of lifestyle diseases in India, especially diabetes. He said that depending on hospitals or affordable medicines would not be sufficient to solve the health problems in the country.

The keynote says that along with medical care, there is a need for greater awareness and informed decision making regarding food to achieve better health outcomes. He stressed that the first step to preventive health is to know nutrition and be conscious of what one eats.

The session prompted students to reflect on food labels, ingredients and eating habits, and reinforced the concept that health literacy is a critical life skill, in addition to formal education.

On social media, Revant Himatsingka, popularly known as Food Pharmer, has amassed a huge fan base by producing content that delves into food products, nutrition labels and consumer awareness. He ended the session at Marwadi University on ‘Empowering students to make informed food choices and the importance of health literacy in preventing lifestyle related diseases’.