Obese Children Now Outnumber Starving Ones Globally, UNICEF Reveals

Obesity has overtaken underweight as the most common form of malnutrition among children and adolescents globally, according to a new UNICEF report.

The report, Feeding Profit: How food environments are failing children, reveals that one in five people aged 5 to 19, around 391 million globally, are overweight, with most classified as obese. This marks the first time obesity has surpassed undernutrition in this age group. Projections for 2025 suggest 188 million adolescents aged 15 to 19 will be living with obesity, compared to 184 million who are underweight.

UNICEF warns that childhood obesity poses serious long-term health risks, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. Executive Director Catherine Russell noted that ultra-processed foods are increasingly replacing fruits, vegetables and proteins in children’s diets, undermining their growth, cognitive development and mental health. 

The report stresses that early obesity extends exposure to health complications and increases the likelihood that they will persist into adulthood. Although undernutrition remains more common in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, these regions are not exempt from the global trend. In Kenya, recent data from the 2022 Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS) show concerning dietary patterns among young children.  

More than half of children aged 6 to 23 months consume sugary foods and drinks, while fewer than half receive the minimum recommended dietary diversity. Only three in ten children meet the standards for a minimally acceptable diet. While the survey highlights improvements in overall nutrition, it does not provide data on obesity rates.

Health experts warn of a “triple burden” of malnutrition, stunting, micronutrient deficiencies and overweight, which can occur within the same household or even affect a single child. Clinical nutritionist Rose Joy Etale, who was not involved in the study, explained that higher-income households may face a greater risk of childhood obesity if nutrition is not prioritised. She attributes rising obesity to the widespread availability of calorie-dense, low-nutrient foods, especially in urban areas where physical activity is limited and screen time is increasing.

Etale emphasises the role of parents in establishing healthy eating habits and encouraging regular exercise. She advises against offering children sugary snacks and beverages, and recommends seeking professional advice for balanced diets. She also warned that restrictive diets or crash dieting can harm children’s growth and development.

The report also highlights the influence of digital marketing on children’s food choices. A UNICEF analysis of six countries, including Kenya, Argentina and Indonesia, found that children are frequently exposed to online advertising for products high in sugar, salt and saturated fat. In Kenya, where more than a quarter of the population uses social media, adolescents aged 14 to 20 spend up to three hours daily online. An examination of 137 social media posts revealed that 88 per cent promoted foods that do not meet World Health Organization standards for marketing to children in Africa.

UNICEF says that these marketing tactics often exploit children’s developmental stages, using themes such as family, social acceptance and personal identity to increase appeal. The agency is calling for regulatory measures including bans on the sale of ultra-processed foods to children, mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling, restrictions on advertising, and economic tools such as targeted taxes and subsidies to shift food environments.