Obesity has overtaken undernourishment as the leading form of malnutrition among children and teenagers worldwide, according to a new report by UNICEF. For the first time in history, the prevalence of obesity among youths aged five to 19 has surpassed that of underweight, marking a significant shift in global health trends.
Nearly one in 10 children in this age group is now living with obesity, a condition associated with a range of metabolic disorders including diabetes, certain cancers, anxiety, and depression.
UNICEF attributes the rise of obesity largely to the widespread availability and aggressive marketing of ultra-processed foods, which are increasingly replacing healthier options such as fruits, vegetables, and proteins in children’s diets. “When we talk about malnutrition, we are no longer just talking about underweight children,” said UNICEF chief Catherine Russell in a statement accompanying the report, titled Feeding Profit: How Food Environments are Failing Children.
The agency emphasized that nutrition plays a critical role in children’s growth, cognitive development, and mental health, making the shift toward processed foods particularly concerning.
Data collected from 190 countries shows that while the prevalence of underweight youths declined from 13 percent in 2000 to 10 percent in 2022, the number of overweight children more than doubled during the same period, rising from 194 million to 391 million.
Obesity specifically increased from 3 percent in 2000 to 8 percent in 2022, equating to 163 million youths worldwide. By 2025, UNICEF estimates that 188 million children and adolescents are obese.
The report stresses that the primary driver of this epidemic is not individual dietary choices or family behavior, but unethical business practices designed to generate profits.
Children are being targeted with pervasive marketing of sugary drinks, salty snacks, and other junk foods, often in school settings. These products are frequently cheaper than fresh, healthy alternatives, which exacerbates the problem, especially in low-income households.
Historically, obesity rates have been higher in developed nations, such as the United States (21 percent) and Chile (27 percent) among five- to 19-year-olds.
However, the gap between wealthy and poorer countries is narrowing, with Pacific islands and other regions seeing rapid increases as imported processed foods replace traditional diets. Many countries now face a “double burden,” simultaneously grappling with undernutrition and rising obesity rates.
UNICEF is calling on governments to implement binding measures to combat the crisis. Recommended policies include advertising restrictions targeting children, taxes on sugary drinks and unhealthy foods, and initiatives that encourage the production and consumption of fresh produce.
The agency underscores that tackling childhood obesity requires systemic changes to the environments in which children grow, rather than placing the blame on families or the children themselves.
