Obesity surpasses undernourishment among children — UNICEF

The number of obese school-aged children has exceeded the number of underweight children globally, according to a new report released by UNICEF.

This is the first time obesity has overtaken undernourishment as the leading form of malnutrition among children aged five to 19, according to the report released on Wednesday.

Today, "when we talk about malnutrition, we are no longer just talking about underweight children," UNICEF chief Catherine Russell said in a statement on the report's release.

What did the report say about undernourishment and obesity?

Since 2000, the number of underweight children has dropped from nearly 13% to 9.2%, among 5- to 19-year olds, according to data collected in over 190 countries.

Meanwhile, obesity rates have nearly tripled from 3% to 9.4% during the same period. The report suggests one in five children aged five to 19 years are overweight, totalling some 391 million.

The "tipping point" was predicted by UNICEF back in 2017.

Obesity now exceeds underweight in all regions globally except sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Many high-income countries continue to have high levels of obesity, including 27% of 5- to 19-year-olds in Chile, 21% in the US and 21% in the UAE, according to the report.

What is causing the rise in obesity?

According to the researchers at UNICEF, the rising trend of obesity is largely due to unhealthy food environments.

The report warned that "ultra-processed and fast foods – high in sugar, refined starch, salt, unhealthy fats and additives – are shaping children's diets through unhealthy food environments, rather than personal choice."

"Obesity is a growing concern that can impact the health and development of children," Russell said in the statement. "Ultra-processed food 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."

To curb the rising trend of obesity, the report included suggestions such as improving the food environment by including food labelling, implementing food marketing restrictions and banning the provision or sale of ultra-processed and junk foods in schools.

It also suggested firming up social protection programs to address income poverty and improve financial access to nutritious diets.