"For the first time, more school-age children and adolescents worldwide are obese than underweight, according to U.N. findings - a trend driven in large part by a rapid increase in obesity among young people in low- and middle-income countries over the past quarter-century, even in places where undernutrition persists. In wealthy countries such as the United States, where childhood obesity has long been comparatively prevalent, increases were less sharp, according to the Child Nutrition Report published by UNICEF, the U.N. Children's Fund."
"Based on data from more than 190 countries and UNICEF, the World Health Organization and the World Bank Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates, the report found that the prevalence of undernutrition among children ages 5 to 19 has declined since 2000, from nearly 13 percent to 9.2 percent, while obesity rates rose from 3 percent to 9.4 percent during that same time period, in concert with a rise in global sales of ultra-processed foods and beverages."
More school-age children and adolescents worldwide are obese than underweight. Nearly one in ten school-age children are obese. Between 2000 and 2022, undernutrition among ages 5 to 19 declined from nearly 13 percent to 9.2 percent, while obesity rose from 3 percent to 9.4 percent. In 2022, 42 percent of overweight youth ages 5 to 19 were classified as obese, up from 30 percent in 2000. Rapid increases in obesity have occurred in low- and middle-income countries, with countries like South Africa, Peru and China more than doubling their share of overweight and obese children since 2000. Rising sales of ultra-processed foods and beverages correlate with increasing childhood obesity. Child obesity raises risks of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and other long-term health problems.
Read at The Washington Post
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