OBESITY OVERTAKES UNDERWEIGHT AS TOP MALNUTRITION AMONG CHILDREN GLOBALLY

For the first time, more children suffer from obesity than being underweight, raising health alarms worldwide.

UNICEF reveals 1 in 10 children aged 5-19—about 188 million—are obese, tripling since 2000. This surge outpaces underweight rates except in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Ultra-processed foods dominate diets, driven by aggressive marketing targeting kids. Obesity increases risks of diabetes, heart disease, and cancers. UNICEF calls for urgent government actions like food labeling, junk food bans in schools, and taxes on unhealthy products to protect children’s health.