Overview
In a landmark revelation, UNICEF's 2025 Child Nutrition Report indicates that for the first time, obesity has surpassed underweight conditions as the predominant form of malnutrition among children and adolescents aged 5-19 worldwide. Drawing on data from over 190 countries, the report highlights 188 million obese children compared to 184 million underweight, attributing the shift to the proliferation of ultra-processed foods and aggressive marketing tactics.
What Happened
UNICEF released its report "Feeding Profit: How Food Environments are Failing Children" on September 10, 2025, analyzing trends from 2000 to 2025. The findings show a dramatic reversal: underweight prevalence dropped from 13% to 9.2%, while obesity rates tripled from 3% to 9.4%. This "historic turning point" means one in 10 school-aged children now lives with obesity, even in regions battling undernutrition. The report calls for urgent policy interventions to reshape food environments and protect young people from unhealthy diets.
Reasons Cited
The surge in childhood obesity stems from the dominance of ultra-processed foods—high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats—that are cheaper and more accessible than nutritious alternatives. Aggressive marketing, including digital ads targeting children, exacerbates the issue, with 75% of youth in a UNICEF poll reporting exposure to junk food promotions weekly. In low- and middle-income countries, urbanization and economic pressures have replaced traditional diets with imported, calorie-dense products. Additionally, in humanitarian crises, companies donate ultra-processed items, further entrenching poor habits.
Expert Opinions
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell stated, “When we talk about malnutrition, we are no longer just talking about underweight children. Obesity is a growing concern that can impact the health and development of children.” Nutrition specialist Harriet Torlesse noted, “Health systems in many countries were built to fight hunger, not obesity.” Katherine Shats, a UNICEF legal expert, criticized “unethical business practices” and “predatory tactics from the industry.” A 2023 WHO report echoed these concerns, finding that ultra-processed foods contribute to 42% of overweight youth being classified as obese, up from 30% in 2000. The Lancet (2024) estimated that obesity-related diseases could cost Peru $210 billion over a generation.
Context
This shift marks a "double burden of malnutrition," where stunting and obesity coexist in the same households or communities, particularly in South America, Africa, and the Middle East. While sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia still see higher underweight rates, obesity exceeds underweight elsewhere. High-income nations like the US (21% obesity rate) and Chile (27%) face entrenched issues, but Pacific Islands like Nauru (33%) report the highest. Globally, overweight affects one in five children (391 million), with economic projections warning of over $4 trillion in annual costs by 2035. Positive examples include Mexico's school bans on sugary drinks, benefiting 34 million children.