Childhood obesity has overtaken underweight as the more prevalent nutritional challenge worldwide among school-aged children and adolescents, according to a new UNICEF report that warns of a growing public health crisis driven by unhealthy food environments.
The UN agency, drawing on global data from 2000 to 2022, estimates that one in ten children aged 5–19 — around 188 million in total — are now living with obesity based on World Health Organisation standards. Obesity in this age group has more than tripled, rising from 3% in 2000 to 9.4% in 2022. Over the same period, the proportion of underweight children declined from nearly 13% to 9.2%.
“When we talk about malnutrition, we are no longer just talking about underweight children,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
The report found that obesity now exceeds underweight in all regions except sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Some of the most severe cases are in the Pacific Islands, where nearly 40% of children aged 5–19 are affected. Rates stand at 21% in both the United Arab Emirates and the United States, with some doctors in the US already supporting the use of new weight-loss drugs for teenagers.
Experts point to the widespread availability and aggressive marketing of ultra-processed foods high in sugar, salt, and fat as key drivers of the trend. “Obesity is not a failure of parents or children. It’s the result of toxic food environments,” said Chris Van Tulleken, professor of global health at University College London and author of Ultra-Processed People.
UNICEF’s own survey of 64,000 young people in 170 countries found that 75% had seen adverts for sugary drinks, snacks, or fast food in the previous week, with exposure reaching 68% even in conflict-affected countries.
Calling the findings a wake-up call, UNICEF urged governments to act swiftly with measures such as restrictions on junk food marketing and bans on unhealthy products in schools to protect children’s long-term health.
Melissa Enoch
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