The report titled ‘Feeding Profit: How Food Environments are Failing Children’ draws on data from over 190 countries and finds the prevalence of underweight among children aged five to 19-years-old has declined since 2000, from nearly 13% to 9.2%. In contrast obesity rates have increased from 3% to 9.4%. Obesity now exceeds underweight in all regions of the world, except sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Several Pacific Island countries have the highest prevalence of obesity globally, including 38% of five to 19-year-olds in Niue, 37% in Cook Islands and 33% in Nauru. These levels – which have all doubled since 2000 – are largely driven by a shift from traditional diets to cheap, energy-dense and imported foods.
Many high-income countries continue to have high levels of obesity, for example 27% of five to 19-year-olds in Chile are living with obesity, 21% in the United States and 21% in the United Arab Emirates.
Catherine Russell, executive director at UNICEF, commented: “When we talk 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. Ultra-processed food is increasingly replacing fruits, vegetables and protein at a time when nutrition plays a critical role in children’s growth, cognitive development and mental health.
“In many countries we are seeing the double burden of malnutrition – the existence of stunting and obesity. This requires targeted interventions. Nutritious and affordable food must be available to every child to support their growth and development. We urgently need policies that support parents and caretakers to access nutritious and healthy foods for their children.”
Obesity is a severe form of overweight and leads to a higher risk of developing insulin resistance and high blood pressure, as well as life-threatening diseases later in life, including type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.
The report warns that ultra-processed and fast foods – high in sugar, refined starch, salt, unhealthy fats and additives – are shaping children’s diets through unhealthy food environments, rather than personal choice.
UNICEF says these products dominate shops and schools, while digital marketing gives the food and beverage industry powerful access to young audiences. UNICEF is calling on Governments, civil society, and partners to urgently:
- Implement comprehensive mandatory policies to improve children’s food environments, including food labelling, food marketing restrictions, and food taxes and subsidies.
- Implement social and behaviour change initiatives that empower families and communities to demand healthier food environments.
- Ban the provision or sale of ultra-processed and junk foods in schools and prohibit food marketing and sponsorship in schools.
- Establish strong safeguards to protect public policy processes from interference by the ultra-processed food industry.
- Strengthen social protection programmes to address income poverty and improve financial access to nutritious diets for vulnerable families.