More Children Obese than Underweight

A new UNICEF report showed that more children worldwide are obese than underweight for the first time in history.

Malnutrition has traditionally meant children lack adequate food, resulting in stunting and wasting, but it can also refer to obesity. Since 2000, the percentage of underweight children aged 5-19 dropped from nearly 13% to 9.2%. During the same period, childhood obesity rates tripled from 3% to 9.4%.

UNICEF, a UN agency, released a report last week that showed one in five children aged 5-19 is now overweight, totaling 391M young people worldwide, while 188M school-aged children and adolescents now live with obesity, representing one in 10 school-aged children globally.

Childhood obesity, which is classified as a severe form of overweight, increases the risks of type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers later in life. The shift affects every world region except sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Pacific Island nations – which have experienced dramatic dietary changes as cheap, imported processed foods replaced traditional meals – recorded the highest obesity rates. High-income nations also showed elevated rates, including Chile at 27%, and both the US and United Arab Emirates at 21%. The report blamed aggressive marketing of ultra-processed foods high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats as the reason behind rising obesity rates. A UNICEF poll of 64,000 young people across 170 countries found that 75% recalled seeing ads for sugary drinks, snacks, or fast food in the previous week, with 60% saying the advertisements increased their desire for the products.

UNICEF called for governments to implement mandatory food labeling, marketing restrictions, taxes on unhealthy products, and stronger protections against industry interference in policymaking. "When we talk about malnutrition, we are no longer just talking about underweight children," said UNICEF's executive director. She added, "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."