Obesity now exceeds underweight in all regions of the world, with the exception of Sub -Saharan Africa and South Asia. Photo: Macrovictor on Freepik
Obesity exceeded underweight as the most common form of malnutrition this year and influenced one of 10 or 188 million, children and adolescents and exposed them to the risk of life -threatening diseases, UNICEF warned in a new report.
Obesity now exceeds underweight in all regions of the world, with the exception of Sub -Saharan Africa and South Asia.
The report is based on data from more than 190 countries and finds that one of 20 children under five years (5%) and one of five children and adolescents aged 5-19 years (20%) lives overweight worldwide.
2025 means the historical point of turnover-first global prevalence of obesity in children and adolescent school age exceeded the presentation of underweight (9.4% compared to 9.2%). This represents an estimated 188 million children and adolescents aged 15-19, living with obesity in 2025, compared to 184 million children and adolescents living with underweight, reporting in the report.
The report is based on data from more than 190 countries and finds that the prevalence of underweight in children aged 5-19 years since 2000, from almost 13% to 9.2%, while the obesity rate increased from 3% to 9.4%. The report states that the level of obesity has largely increased by transition from traditional diet to cheap, energetically dense imported foods.
“When we talk about malnutrition, we are no longer talking about underweight children,” said UNICEF CENF Catherine Catherine Russell. “Obesity is a growing concern that can affect the health and development of children. Ultra processed food is increasingly replacing fruits, vegetables and proteins at a time when nutrition plays a decisive role in the growth of children, cognitive development and mental health.”
While malnutrition-like is wasting and frowning-it grows in most countries with low and medium incomes a significant problem for children under the age of five, the prevalence of overweight and obesity increases in children and adolescents.
Children are considered overweight when they are significantly heavier than what is healthy for their age, sex and height.
Obesity is a serious form of overweight and leads to a higher risk of developing insulin resistance and high blood pressure, as an IO of life -threatening diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers.
The report warns that ultra-processed and fast food-like sugar content, refined starch, salt, unhealthy fats and ingredients-tend to baby food through an unhealthy food environment than personal choices. These products dominate shops and schools, while digital marketing provides a strong access to the young audience.
The report also adds that without intervention that would prevent overweight and obesity in childhood, the country could face lifelong health and economic impacts.
To transform the food environment and ensure that children have access to nutritional diet, UNICEF calls on governments, civil society and partners to urgently implement comprehensive compulsory policies to improve the food environment for children, including food restrictions and taxes and subsidies and subsidies, and bring initiatives in social and behavior.
She also proposed to ban the sale of ultra -processed and unhealthy foods in schools and, among other things, to ban food marketing and sponsorship in schools.
Published – 11 September 2025 02:22
