UNICEF has issued a stark warning that childhood obesity has overtaken undernutrition as the most prevalent form of malnutrition worldwide. The organisation’s latest report highlights the urgent need for governments to act before the problem escalates further.
The report, Profiting at the Expense of Children: How the Food Environment Puts Them at Risk, estimates that one in ten children and adolescents—around 188 million—are now obese. Globally, 391 million young people are overweight, representing one in five children aged 5 to 19.
Data spanning more than 190 countries reveals that underweight among children aged 5-19 has fallen from nearly 13% in 2000 to 9.2% in 2025. In the same period, obesity surged from 3% to 9.4%, surpassing underweight in every region except sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
The findings are particularly concerning in Europe, where Bulgaria recorded 29.2% of children aged 5-19 as overweight in 2022, placing it among the countries with the highest rates of childhood obesity.
UNICEF says the shift cannot be viewed in isolation. Ultra-processed foods loaded with sugars, salt, and unhealthy fats are replacing fresh and nutritious meals, while digital marketing and sedentary lifestyles accelerate the trend. Many children also suffer from hidden hunger due to insufficient vitamins and minerals.
“When we talk about malnutrition today, it is no longer only about children who are underweight. Obesity is increasingly threatening children’s health and development,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. She warned that these dietary changes jeopardise growth, learning, and long-term wellbeing.
The risks are severe. Childhood obesity is strongly linked to insulin resistance, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers later in life. Experts stress that without urgent reforms, these health conditions will burden future generations.
Some governments have begun taking steps. Mexico has banned the sale of ultra-processed foods in public schools, seeking to create a healthier food environment for millions of children. UNICEF urges other nations to follow suit with bold, enforceable measures.
Key recommendations include adopting policies for clearer labelling, restricting marketing of unhealthy foods, introducing subsidies and taxes to encourage healthier choices, and banning ultra-processed foods in schools. Strengthening social protection programs is also seen as vital to ensure vulnerable families can access nutritious meals.
The report concludes that reversing the trend requires a united approach across policy, community, and family levels. Childhood obesity, it warns, has become a central global health challenge demanding immediate, coordinated action.