One in every five children or adolescents worldwide is overweight, representing about 391 million individuals. Nearly half of them—188 million—have obesity. As a result, for the first time in history, severe overweight has surpassed malnutrition as the leading form of child malnutrition. The data comes from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which warns of the risk of illness.
In a report with data from more than 190 countries, the organization shows that the prevalence of malnutrition among children aged 5 to 19 fell from nearly 13% to 9.2% between 2000 and 2025. Meanwhile, obesity rates rose from 3% to 9.4%. Obesity has not yet surpassed malnutrition in only two regions of the world: Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
In Brazil, this has been the scenario for a few decades. In the year 2000, 5% of children and adolescents had obesity, compared to 4% affected by malnutrition. By 2022, the obesity rate tripled to 15%, while malnutrition continued to fall to 3% of that population. Additionally, overweight doubled from 18% to 36%.
According to the report, the highest obesity rates among children and adolescents were found in Pacific Island countries, exceeding 30%. The main reason, according to UNICEF, is the replacement of traditional diets with ultra-processed foods, which are cheaper.
However, obesity rates and ultra-processed food consumption are also concerning in high-income countries across different continents and cultural contexts. In Chile, 27% of inhabitants aged 5 to 19 live with obesity, and the proportion is 21% in the United States and United Arab Emirates, that is, 2 out of every 10.
“Obesity is a growing concern that can impact children’s health and development. Ultra-processed foods are increasingly replacing fruits, vegetables, and proteins, just when nutrition plays a critical role in children’s growth, cognitive development, and mental health,” laments Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director.
According to the organization, the shift is not due to personal choices, but to “harmful food environments that are shaping children’s diets to favor ultra-processed foods and fast food,” which contain high concentrations of sugar, refined starch, salt, unhealthy fats, and additives.
“These products dominate stores and schools, while digital marketing gives the food and beverage industry powerful access to young audiences,” the publication warns.
The report also shows that malnutrition remains a significant concern among children under 5 in many low- and middle-income countries, while overweight is more prevalent among school-age children and adolescents.
According to the report, the condition increases the risk of developing insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and serious diseases over a lifetime, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain types of cancer.
UNICEF calculates that if countries do not intervene to prevent childhood overweight, they may face major economic impacts due to consequences on public health. By 2035, the global economic impact of overweight and obesity is expected to exceed US$ 4 trillion per year.
On the other hand, some countries stand out as positive examples, including Brazil. The organization highlights: the progressive restriction on the purchase of ultra-processed foods in the National School Feeding Program (PNAE); the ban on advertising unhealthy foods to children; front-of-pack labeling, which highlights when a product is high in harmful substances like sugar and sodium; and the prohibition of trans fats in food production.
Source: Agência Brasil