Childhood obesity now more widespread than underweight, Unicef warns

For the first time, global data shows that obesity in children and adolescents has overtaken underweight as a health concern, according to a new report from the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef).

The analysis, which draws on data from more than 190 countries, estimates that 188 million young people aged five to nineteen, around one in ten, are living with obesity. In contrast, 9.2 per cent of children in the same age group are underweight.

Researchers attribute the rise to increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, which are typically inexpensive, high in calories and low in nutritional value.

Historically, malnutrition in children has been associated with being underweight. However, Unicef warns that obesity must now also be recognised as a form of malnutrition, with serious implications for health and development.

Obesity in children is linked to a higher risk of type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers later in life. Poor nutrition during childhood can also affect cognitive development and mental health outcomes.

“Obesity is a growing concern and can have long-term effects on children’s health and wellbeing,” said Unicef executive director Catherine Russell. “In many countries we are seeing the double burden of malnutrition, the coexistence of stunting and obesity.”

Since 2000, the proportion of underweight children aged five to nineteen has fallen from nearly 13 per cent to 9.2 per cent. Over the same period, obesity prevalence has more than tripled, from three per cent to 9.4 per cent.

Overall, one in five children and adolescents, approximately 391 million worldwide, are now classified as living with overweight. Obesity now exceeds underweight in every region except sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

The highest prevalence of childhood obesity is reported in some Pacific Island nations, including Niue (38 per cent), the Cook Islands (37 per cent) and Nauru (33 per cent). High-income countries also report significant rates: 27 per cent in Chile, 21 per cent in the United States and 21 per cent in the United Arab Emirates.

Unicef is urging governments to introduce stronger policies to improve children’s diets, including measures on food labelling and marketing, removing ultra-processed foods from schools, introducing taxes on unhealthy products and requiring reformulation by manufacturers.

The agency also emphasises the need to protect public health policy from interference by the food industry, with greater transparency around lobbying activities.

The economic stakes are high. The report warns that by 2035, the global economic impact of overweight and obesity is projected to exceed US$4 trillion (£2.95 trillion) annually.