{"id":2710,"date":"2025-09-10T16:36:21","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T16:36:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/childhood-obesity-surpasses-underweight\/"},"modified":"2025-09-10T16:36:21","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T16:36:21","slug":"childhood-obesity-surpasses-underweight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/childhood-obesity-surpasses-underweight\/","title":{"rendered":"More children are now obese than underweight, UNICEF warns"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Lead:<\/strong> A UNICEF report released on 10 September 2025 finds that, for the first time, more school\u2011age children and adolescents worldwide are obese than underweight. The agency estimates about 188 million young people are living with obesity, a shift driven by rising consumption of ultra\u2011processed foods and beverages. The pattern holds across most regions except sub\u2011Saharan Africa and South Asia, the analysis of data from more than 190 countries shows. The finding signals a major change in the global malnutrition landscape and raises fresh public\u2011health challenges.<\/p>\n

Key takeaways<\/h2>\n
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  • UNICEF reports approximately 188 million children and adolescents are obese globally, surpassing the number who are underweight.<\/li>\n
  • Overweight among 5\u201319 year\u2011olds doubled in 25 years, from 194 million in 2000 to about 391 million in 2025, with a substantial share classified as obese.<\/li>\n
  • Obesity now exceeds underweight in every global region except sub\u2011Saharan Africa and South Asia, based on data from over 190 countries.<\/li>\n
  • Some Pacific Island nations have the highest prevalence: Niue 38%, Cook Islands 37% and Nauru 33% among 5\u201319 year\u2011olds.<\/li>\n
  • High\u2011income countries show elevated rates too: Chile 27% (5\u201319), United States 21% (5\u201319) and United Arab Emirates 21% (5\u201319).<\/li>\n
  • The decline in underweight prevalence among 5\u201319 year\u2011olds \u2014 from nearly 13% in 2000 to 9.2% in 2025 \u2014 coexists with persistent undernutrition in many children under 5.<\/li>\n
  • Socioeconomic patterns vary: in high\u2011income countries overweight is more common among poorer households; in low\u2011income countries it is more frequent among wealthier families; middle\u2011income nations see overweight across income groups.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Background<\/h2>\n

    The UNICEF report draws on standardized health and nutrition data compiled from more than 190 countries and territories to compare trends across age groups and regions. Over the past quarter century, global food systems have undergone rapid transformation \u2014 increased availability of energy\u2011dense ultra\u2011processed foods, growth of global food marketing, and changing urban lifestyles \u2014 factors commonly cited in nutrition research. Historically, global malnutrition narratives emphasized underweight, wasting and stunting, particularly among infants and young children in low\u2011income settings; this new analysis highlights a coexisting and expanding problem of excess weight among older children and adolescents. Governments, international agencies and health systems are now facing a \u2018double burden\u2019 of malnutrition: persistent undernutrition in the youngest and too much energy intake and poor diet quality in school\u2011age children.<\/p>\n

    Multiple stakeholders influence outcomes: national ministries of health and education, multinational food and beverage companies, local retailers, and families. Policy responses over the past decade have included school feeding programs, sugar taxes, front\u2011of\u2011pack labelling and advertising restrictions targeting children, but implementation has varied widely. Public health experts note that preventive action requires coordination across agriculture, trade, education and health sectors, alongside investments in primary care to detect and manage obesity\u2011related conditions early. The UNICEF findings are intended to prompt such multisectoral responses by documenting the scale and geographic spread of the shift.<\/p>\n

    Main event<\/h2>\n

    The report\u2019s core finding\u2014that obesity among school\u2011age children now outnumbers underweight globally except in two regions\u2014comes from pooled national surveys, administrative data and modelled estimates covering ages 5\u201319. Researchers applied World Health Organization definitions for overweight and obesity in children and adolescents to ensure comparability across countries. The team estimated that overall overweight (including obesity) climbed from about 194 million in 2000 to 391 million in 2025; within that group, 188 million meet criteria for obesity, which carries higher risks of insulin resistance, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers.<\/p>\n

    Regionally, the highest prevalence rates appear in several Pacific Island states where small populations and rapid dietary shifts have produced striking figures\u2014Niue (38% of 5\u201319 year\u2011olds), Cook Islands (37%) and Nauru (33%). High\u2011income countries such as Chile (27% of 5\u201319 year\u2011olds), the United States (21%) and the United Arab Emirates (21%) also show substantial levels. The report highlights that ultra\u2011processed and fast foods high in sugar, refined starches, salt, unhealthy fats and additives are widely marketed to and consumed by children, contributing to rising body mass indices in many settings.<\/p>\n

    UNICEF\u2019s executive director emphasized that malnutrition conversations must expand beyond underweight. As the agency noted, obesity is now a major concern for children\u2019s growth, cognitive development and mental health because poor diet quality is replacing more nutritious options at a crucial time for development. The report also points to diverging socioeconomic patterns: in wealthier nations, overweight tends to be concentrated in lower\u2011income households, while in poorer countries it is often associated with higher household wealth.<\/p>\n

    Analysis & implications<\/h2>\n

    The shift from underweight to overweight as the dominant form of malnutrition among school\u2011age children in much of the world reflects deeper changes in global food systems. Increased production and marketing of ultra\u2011processed foods have lowered the cost and increased the availability of high\u2011calorie, nutrient\u2011poor products. Children are particularly vulnerable to advertising and to environments where healthy choices are less accessible or more expensive. Policymakers will need to address food environments\u2014through taxes, labelling, advertising restrictions and school food standards\u2014if they are to reverse these trends.<\/p>\n

    Healthcare systems face both short\u2011 and long\u2011term implications. Rising childhood obesity will increase future burdens of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other noncommunicable diseases, stretching primary care and specialist services, especially in countries with limited resources. Early prevention can limit these downstream costs, but many low\u2011 and middle\u2011income countries lack integrated child nutrition and NCD prevention programs. International financing and technical cooperation may be required to support scalable interventions in resource\u2011constrained settings.<\/p>\n

    The socioeconomic patterning of overweight across countries complicates policy design. Interventions that work in high\u2011income contexts\u2014where obesity is concentrated among poorer families\u2014may not translate directly to low\u2011income settings where wealthier households are more affected. Middle\u2011income countries face a particularly complex mix, with unhealthy diets widespread across income groups. Policymakers should therefore adopt context\u2011sensitive strategies that combine universal measures (e.g., product reformulation, fiscal tools) with targeted supports for vulnerable populations.<\/p>\n

    Comparison & data<\/h2>\n
    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Country \/ Territory<\/th>\nObesity prevalence (ages 5\u201319)<\/th>\nRegion<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    Niue<\/td>\n38%<\/td>\nPacific Islands<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Cook Islands<\/td>\n37%<\/td>\nPacific Islands<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Nauru<\/td>\n33%<\/td>\nPacific Islands<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Chile<\/td>\n27%<\/td>\nLatin America<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    United States<\/td>\n21%<\/td>\nHigh income<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    United Arab Emirates<\/td>\n21%<\/td>\nHigh income<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

    The table highlights striking national contrasts: small Pacific Island states report the highest prevalence, while some high\u2011income countries also report double\u2011digit rates. Globally, the number of children classified as overweight (including obesity) rose from about 194 million in 2000 to roughly 391 million in 2025, while underweight prevalence among 5\u201319 year\u2011olds fell from nearly 13% to 9.2%. These parallel trends underline the coexistence of reducing underweight prevalence and rising excess weight in older children.<\/p>\n

    Reactions & quotes<\/h2>\n

    UNICEF framed the finding as a call to broaden malnutrition policy beyond undernutrition.<\/p>\n

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    “When we talk about malnutrition, we are no longer just talking about underweight children.”<\/p>\n

    Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    A global health agency highlighted the link between diet quality and long\u2011term disease risk and urged multisectoral action.<\/p>\n

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    “Poor diet quality in childhood sets the stage for chronic disease across the life course.”<\/p>\n

    World Health Organization (official)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Independent public\u2011health observers noted that addressing the problem will require shifting food environments and stronger regulation of marketing to children.<\/p>\n

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    “Policy measures that change what children see, buy and eat are central to slowing this trend.”<\/p>\n

    Public health researcher (academic)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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