Childhood obesity outnumbers malnutrition.

The number of obese school-aged children has surpassed the number of underweight children globally, according to a new report by UNICEF. This marks the first time that obesity has surpassed undernourishment as the leading form of malnutrition among children aged 5 to 19. UNICEF chief Catherine Russell stated that when discussing malnutrition, we are no longer only referring to underweight children. Since 2000, the number of underweight children has decreased from nearly 13% to 9.2%, while obesity rates have nearly tripled from 3% to 9.4%. Obesity now affects one in five children and totals 391 million. The UNICEF report highlights the role of unhealthy food environments, particularly the increasing consumption of ultra-processed and fast foods, in shaping children’s diets. The report suggests several recommendations to address the rise in obesity rates, including improving food environments through food labeling, implementing marketing restrictions, and banning junk foods in schools. Additionally, the report suggests strengthening social protection programs to address income poverty and improve access to nutritious diets.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/obesity-surpasses-undernourishment-among-children-unicef/a-73941877?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf