Childhood Obesity Exceeds Childhood Undernourishment - UNICEF Report
In a groundbreaking report released on Wednesday, UNICEF has revealed that obesity has overtaken undernourishment as the leading form of malnutrition among children aged 5 to 19. The report, based on data collected in over 190 countries, states that the rising trend of obesity among children is largely due to unhealthy food environments. Ultra-processed and fast foods are shaping children's diets, according to UNICEF researchers. Over the past two decades, obesity rates have nearly tripled, with the number of children affected rising from 3% to 9.4%. High levels of obesity are observed in many high-income countries, including 27% of 5- to 19-year-olds in Chile, 21% in the US, and 21% in the UAE. The report emphasizes the importance of nutritious diets and a healthy food environment. To curb the rising trend of obesity, UNICEF suggests 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. Meanwhile, since 2000, the number of underweight children has dropped from nearly 13% to 9.2% among 5- to 19-year-olds. This significant decrease is a testament to the success of global efforts to address undernourishment. However, the report underscores the urgent need for action to combat the rising trend of obesity. One in five children aged 5 to 19 years are overweight, totaling some 391 million. The 'tipping point' where obesity exceeds underweight was predicted by UNICEF in 2017. UNICEF chief Catherine Russell stated that when talking 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. The report stresses the need for firming up social protection programs to address income poverty and improve financial access to nutritious diets. The report suggests that improving the food environment and social protection programs could help address the issue of obesity among children. It is a call to action for governments, communities, and individuals to work together to create a world where every child has access to a healthy and nutritious diet.
