UNICEF says obesity is now more common than underweight in school-aged children. A new report shows 188 million kids aged 5-19 are obese, which is 1 in 10 globally. This puts them at risk of serious health problems.
NEW YORK, 11 Sep 2025
UNICEF says obesity is now more common than underweight in school-aged children. A new report shows 188 million kids aged 5-19 are obese, which is 1 in 10 globally. This puts them at risk of serious health problems.
Obesity Rates Rising Worldwide
Obesity rates in kids have gone up from 3 percent to 9.4 percent since 2000. At the same time, underweight rates have gone down from 13 percent to 9.2 percent. Obesity is now more common than underweight in most parts of the world. Some Pacific Island countries have the highest obesity rates. In Niue, 38 percent of kids are obese. The rates are also high in Cook Islands and Nauru.
Unhealthy Food Causing Problems
UNICEF says unhealthy food is a big reason for rising obesity. Many kids are eating more junk food instead of fruits and vegetables. This can hurt their growth and brain development. Unhealthy food is easy to find in shops and schools. Companies also use online ads to sell these foods to kids. Obesity can lead to serious health issues like diabetes and heart problems later in life. NEW YORK – Obesity surpassed underweight as the more prevalent form of malnutrition this year, affecting 1 in 10 – or 188 million – school-aged children and adolescents, and placing them at risk of life-threatening disease, UNICEF warned in a new report today. Feeding Profit: How…
When we talk about malnutrition, we are no longer just talking about underweight children, said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
UNICEF urges action to make healthy food more available to children. Follow The Rising News for more verified updates.
Updated 11 Sep 2025, 14:18 IST; source: link
