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For the first time, obesity rates among children worldwide surpass those of underweight children, according to a new United Nations report. This shift is largely attributed to the widespread access to junk food.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that the proportion of underweight children and teens has decreased since the turn of the century, from 13% to 9.2%. Conversely, childhood obesity rates have increased from 3% to 9.4%.
Obesity poses a significant health risk to these 188 million children aged 5 to 19, warns the report, while approximately 184 million children are underweight.
Executive Director of UNICEF, Catherine Russell, highlighted the growing concern over obesity, indicating it is a major issue for children’s health and development.
In western Europe, about 25% of school-aged kids and teens are overweight, a level consistent with two decades ago, according to the report.
UNICEF identifies ultra-processed foods, such as chips, sweetened cereals, and frozen pizzas, as the primary driver behind the surge in childhood obesity. These foods are high in sugar, unhealthy fats, and artificial additives, and are linked to obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, and early death.
In several countries, these foods constitute over half of children’s daily calorie intake. Efforts to restrict their advertising and make them less appealing to children have been implemented in some places.
A global survey of 64,000 young people revealed that 75% of them had recently seen advertisements for sugary drinks, snacks, and fast food, with 60% saying the ads made them want to eat these unhealthy foods.
Russell emphasized that ultra-processed foods are replacing healthier options, affecting children’s growth, cognitive development, and mental health.
The report highlights a stark contrast, where undernutrition remains a concern in lower-income countries leading to stunting and wasting, while millions of older children and teens face obesity.
Russell calls for targeted interventions to address this “double burden” of malnutrition, advocating for restrictions on food marketing and labeling, bans on junk food sales in schools, and support for lower-income families to access healthy food.
