More children worldwide are obese than underweight, says UNICEF
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More school-aged children and adolescents are obese than underweight across the globe, according to a new UNICEF report.
The only exceptions are sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
The report blamed unhealthy food environments for this shift.
It drew on data from 2000 to 2022 collected by researchers in various countries. These researchers had predicted in 2017 that this “tipping point” would be reached soon.
UNICEF’s analysis showed that about 1 in 10, or roughly 188 million, school-aged children and adolescents are obese based on World Health Organization criteria. These children face lifelong risks such as diabetes and heart disease.
Obesity among this group has more than tripled in two decades, rising from 3% in 2000 to 9.4% in recent years. At the same time, the share of underweight children aged 5-19 dropped from nearly 13% in 2000 to 9.2%. UNICEF noted that underweight remains a serious issue.
“When we talk about malnutrition, we are no longer just talking about underweight children,” said UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell.
The report added that obesity now outnumbers underweight cases in all regions except sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Some Pacific Island nations are hardest hit. In Niue and the Cook Islands, nearly 40% of children aged 5-19 are obese. Rates stand at 21% in the UAE and the United States. In countries like the U.S., doctors are increasingly recommending new weight-loss drugs for teens.
UNICEF pointed to ultra-processed foods loaded with sugar, salt, and fat, as well as widespread marketing of unhealthy products, as major drivers of the rise.
“Obesity is not a failure of parents or children. It's the result of toxic food environments,” said Chris Van Tulleken, global health professor at University College London, a UNICEF supporter and author of *Ultra-Processed People*.
A UNICEF survey of 64,000 youth aged 13-24 across 170 countries found that 75% had seen ads for sugary drinks, snacks, or fast food in the past week. Even in conflict zones, 68% reported seeing such adverts.
UNICEF urged governments to act immediately. The organization recommended implementing marketing restrictions and banning junk food in schools to tackle the problem.