ISLAMABAD: Childhood obesity has surpassed undernutrition for the first time among children and adolescents worldwide, with nearly one in ten in the 5-19 age group projected to live with the chronic disease by 2025, UNICEF warned in a new report.
The UN agency said the surge is being driven not by individual choices, but by the “predatory” marketing of ultra-processed foods, increasingly replacing fruits, vegetables, and proteins — even in countries still battling hunger.
A ‘historic turning point’
According to UNICEF, global obesity prevalence among 5-19 year old has reached 9.4 percent, overtaking underweight at 9.2 percent. In 2022, 163 million in the age group were obese, compared to 3 percent in 2000. The agency projects the number will rise to 188 million next year.
“The fault lies not with children or their families, but with a failure of society to protect them,” said UNICEF chief Catherine Russell, warning that unhealthy diets threaten growth, cognitive development and mental health.
Industry tactics under fire
UNICEF accused multinational food companies of flooding schools and communities with cheap, high-calorie products while marketing them aggressively. “Children are being bombarded by unhealthy food marketing,” said legal expert Katherine Shats, describing the practice as “predatory.”
The report urged urgent government action, including bans on junk food advertising, taxes on sugary drinks, and stronger policies to make fresh produce accessible. It dismissed the idea that sports participation can offset poor diets, warning: “It is impossible to outrun the health consequences of ultra-processed food.”
