Obesity has overtaken underweight as the most common form of malnutrition among school-aged children and adolescents worldwide, placing millions at risk of serious health complications, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned.
UNICEF, in its recent report dubbed “Feeding Profit: How Food Environments are Failing Children,” has revealed that one in 10 children aged 5 to 19, an estimated 188 million, are now living with obesity, according to the Ghana News Agency.
The report, which draws on data from more than 190 countries and was published on September 10 on its website, shows that while the proportion of underweight children has dropped from nearly 13 percent in 2000 to 9.2 percent in 2024, obesity rates have surged from 3 percent to 9.4 percent over the same period.
The data indicate that obesity now exceeds underweight in every region of the world, except sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Some Pacific Island nations recorded the highest prevalence globally, with 38 percent of children in Niue, 37 percent in the Cook Islands, and 33 percent in Nauru, figures that have doubled since 2000.
High-income countries also face rising challenges. In Chile, 27 percent of children aged 5 to 19 are living with obesity, while the United States and the United Arab Emirates each recorded 21 percent.
“When we talk about malnutrition, we are no longer just talking about underweight children,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Obesity is a growing concern that can impact the health and development of children. Ultra-processed food is increasingly replacing fruits, vegetables, and protein at a time when nutrition plays a critical role in children’s growth, cognitive development, and mental health.”
The report warns that unhealthy food environments dominated by ultra-processed foods high in sugar, refined starch, salt, and unhealthy fats are fueling the crisis.
Marketing by the food and beverage industry, particularly through digital platforms, has further entrenched unhealthy eating habits among children and adolescents.
A global poll of 64,000 young people from over 170 countries conducted through UNICEF’s U-Report found that 75 percent had seen advertisements for sugary drinks, snacks, or fast foods within a week, with 60 percent admitting the ads influenced their desire to consume such foods.
Health experts warn that childhood obesity significantly increases the risk of insulin resistance, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers later in life.
The economic impact is also projected to be staggering, with global costs of overweight and obesity expected to exceed US$4 trillion annually by 2035.
Despite the alarming trends, some countries have taken bold measures. In Mexico, where sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods account for about 40 percent of children’s daily calories, the government banned the sale of such products in public schools, improving food environments for more than 34 million children.
UNICEF is urging governments to adopt comprehensive mandatory policies, including food labeling, marketing restrictions, and nutrition-focused subsidies and taxes.
The agency is also calling for bans on junk food sales in schools, stronger social protection programmes, and safeguards to prevent food industry interference in public policy.
“In many countries, we are seeing the double burden of malnutrition, the existence of stunting and obesity. This requires targeted interventions,” Ms. Russell said. “Nutritious and affordable food must be available to every child to support their growth and development.”
UNICEF emphasised that tackling the growing obesity crisis will require coordinated action by governments, civil society, and communities to transform food environments and protect children’s right to a healthy start in life.
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