UNICEF: More children now obese than underweight as junk food takes toll

A new UN report has revealed that more children worldwide now live with obesity than with underweight, warning that ultra-processed foods are reshaping childhood diets.

UNICEF said 188 million children and teenagers are now obese — about one in 10 globally. 

The agency in the report warned that this is affecting health and development and increasing the risk of serious diseases later in life.

Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s executive director, said: “When we talk about malnutrition, we are no longer just talking about underweight children. Obesity is a growing concern. Ultra-processed food [UPF] 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 found that 9.4% of those aged five to 19 are obese, compared with 9.2% who are underweight. In 2000, the figures were almost the reverse: nearly 13% were underweight while just 3% were obese.

Obesity is now more common than being underweight in every region except sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, and it is a problem even in countries where many children are stunted or wasted due to lack of food.

The report, Feeding Profit: How Food Environments are Failing Children, used data from more than 190 countries, drawing from UNICEF, the World Health Organization and the World Bank. It showed that one in five young people aged five to 19 are overweight, and the share of those considered obese has grown sharply from 30% in 2000 to 42% in 2022.

The highest rates were seen in Pacific Island countries, where diets have shifted from traditional foods to cheap, imported products. In Niue, 38% of children aged five to 19 are obese, while the figure is 37% in the Cook Islands. High levels were also recorded in Chile (27%), the United States (21%) and the United Arab Emirates (21%).

In the UK, the percentage of overweight children rose slightly, from 29% in 2000 to 30% in 2022. The share who are obese grew from 9% to 11%.

The sharpest rise in overweight children and teenagers was recorded in low- and middle-income countries. Numbers there have more than doubled since 2000, coinciding with the rapid growth of supermarkets, food delivery services and online grocery shopping. 

The report noted that ultra-processed foods are often cheaper than fresh or minimally processed alternatives.

Childhood obesity has been linked to higher risks of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers in adulthood. Experts also point to the powerful role of marketing.

The World Obesity Federation has estimated that by 2035, the global cost of overweight and obesity will exceed $4tn (£2.9tn) each year.

UNICEF urged governments to act through clearer labelling, tighter marketing rules, taxes and subsidies. It recommended banning junk food in schools, restricting advertising to children, and improving programmes that help vulnerable families afford healthier diets. 

It also called for “strong safeguards to protect public-policy processes from interference by the ultra-processed food industry.”

(The Guardian)

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