Childhood Obesity Surpasses Underweight Globally – Unicef
For the first time, there are now more children living with obesity than those who are underweight, according to a major UNICEF study covering more than 190 countries.
The findings reveal that around one in ten children and adolescents between the ages of five and 19, about 188 million globally, are obese. When overweight children are included, the number rises to 391 million, or one in five school-age children worldwide.
While the proportion of underweight children in this age group has fallen since 2000, from nearly 13% to 9.2%, obesity has surged from 3% to 9.4%. This means obesity now exceeds underweight in every region of the world, except for sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Some of the highest rates are found in Pacific Island states, where more than a third of children are obese. But the problem extends far beyond, with 27% of children in Chile, 21% in the United States, and 21% in the United Arab Emirates also affected.
Researchers point to the global shift away from traditional diets toward ultra-processed foods, which are cheap, heavily marketed, and high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. This trend has made obesity part of the wider picture of malnutrition, alongside stunting and wasting, even in poorer countries.
UNICEF warns the consequences are serious. Obesity in childhood increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers later in life. The agency estimates that the economic impact of obesity will surpass US$4 trillion annually by 2035 if no action is taken.
Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s Executive Director, calls the issue a “growing concern” and urges governments to act decisively. Recommended measures include removing ultra-processed foods from school canteens, taxing unhealthy products, tightening labelling and marketing rules, and protecting policymaking from industry influence.
