Tejal Somvanshi
For the first time in history, obesity has overtaken underweight as the most common form of malnutrition among school-age children and adolescents worldwide, according to a new UNICEF report.
One in 10 children aged 5 to 19 – about 188 million worldwide – now live with obesity, putting them at higher risk for serious health problems like type-2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.
“When we talk about malnutrition, we are no longer just talking about underweight children,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Obesity is a growing concern that can impact the health and development of children. Ultra-processed food is increasingly replacing fruits, vegetables and protein at a time when nutrition plays a critical role in children’s growth, cognitive development and mental health.”
The report, titled “Feeding Profit: How Food Environments are Failing Children,” shows a dramatic shift in global nutrition patterns. Since 2000, the percentage of underweight children aged 5-19 has dropped from nearly 13% to 9.2%. During the same period, obesity rates more than tripled from 3% to 9.4%.
Today, obesity rates exceed underweight in every region except sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
The situation is especially severe in Pacific Island nations, where traditional diets have been replaced by imported processed foods. In Niue, 38% of children are obese, followed by Cook Islands at 37% and Nauru at 33%. High-income countries also show alarming rates – 27% of children in Chile and 21% in both the United States and United Arab Emirates live with obesity.
Overall, one in five children and adolescents (391 million) are now overweight, with nearly half classified as obese.
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The report points to aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods as a major factor. In a UNICEF poll of 64,000 young people across 170 countries, 75% reported seeing ads for sugary drinks, snacks, or fast food in the previous week. Sixty percent said these ads made them want to eat the advertised products. Even in conflict-affected countries, 68% of young people were exposed to such advertisements.
The economic impact is substantial. Without intervention, countries face enormous costs – for example, Peru could see lifetime economic impacts exceeding $210 billion due to obesity-related health issues. Globally, the economic impact of overweight and obesity is expected to surpass $4 trillion annually by 2035.
Some governments are taking action. Mexico, where sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods make up 40% of children’s daily calories, has banned their sale in public schools, improving food environments for over 34 million children.
UNICEF is calling for wider reforms including mandatory food labeling, marketing restrictions, taxes on unhealthy products, junk food bans in schools, stronger social protection programs, and safeguards against industry interference in policymaking.
“In many countries we are seeing the double burden of malnutrition – the existence of stunting and obesity. This requires targeted interventions,” said Russell. “Nutritious and affordable food must be available to every child to support their growth and development.”
