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New analysis from UNICEF shows a dramatic shift in child nutrition: obesity now outpaces underweight among children worldwide, a change that threatens to increase chronic disease in the coming decades. The findings underline how modern diets and aggressive marketing are reshaping young people?s health?and why policymakers face rising pressure to act fast.
The agency reviewed data from more than 190 countries covering 2000 through 2022 and projects continued trends forward. Its assessment finds that nearly one in five people under 19 is now classified as overweight, while about one in 10 meets the World Health Organization definition of obesity. These trends reflect both a rapid rise in excess weight and a gradual decline in undernutrition in many regions.
| Measure | 2000 | 2022 | Approx. global total (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prevalence of obesity (age 5?19) | ~3% | 9.4% | ~188 million |
| Prevalence of underweight (all children) | ~13% | 9.2% | ? |
| Share of children classified as overweight (under 19) | ? | ~20% | ~391 million |
Where the problem is growing fastest
Obesity has climbed most steeply in low- and middle-income countries, where states still contend with pockets of undernutrition. Small Pacific states report some of the highest rates: in places such as Niue and the Cook Islands, around two in five young people are living with obesity. In larger countries, rates are also high: roughly 27% of 5?to?19?year?olds in Chile, and about 21% in the United States and the United Arab Emirates, meet obesity thresholds.
In wealthier nations, the report notes, more than half of adolescents? calories often come from ultra-processed foods?products high in salt, sugar and unhealthy fats. That dietary shift, paired with pervasive advertising, is a major factor in rising childhood overweight.
Exposure to junk-food marketing
UNICEF surveyed roughly 64,000 young people across 170 countries and found high levels of exposure to promotions for sugary drinks, snacks and fast food. Around three-quarters of respondents had seen such ads in the previous week, with exposure reported in schools, on social media, at sporting events and even in children?s programming. Even in conflict-affected settings, more than two-thirds said they had seen these advertisements.
Experts cite both product availability and the intensity of marketing as drivers of the change. One public-health commentator summarized the shift as the result of ?toxic food environments? that make unhealthy options the easy choice for families.
- Health consequences: Higher childhood obesity increases lifetime risk of insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and some cancers.
- Economic and social stakes: Rising chronic disease among young cohorts raises long-term healthcare costs and can undermine productivity and education outcomes.
- Equity concerns: Low- and middle-income countries now face a double burden?ongoing undernutrition in parts of the population alongside accelerating rates of overweight and obesity.
Policy responses and debate
UNICEF is urging governments to move quickly: recommended measures include restricting junk-food marketing to children, banning the sale of unhealthy items in schools, and improving access to fresh produce and nutritious proteins. Some countries have already taken steps. Mexico, for example, has prohibited the sale and distribution of many ultra-processed products in public schools after documenting that such foods make up a large share of children?s daily calories.
In the United States, the recently released MAHA report on childhood health recommends exploring guidelines to limit direct marketing of unhealthy foods to young people. At the same time, clinicians in higher-income settings are increasingly discussing pharmaceutical options?such as newer weight-loss medications?for adolescents, a move that has generated debate about access, safety and the role of medical treatment versus prevention.
The report?s authors warn that without coordinated action across policy, industry regulation and community supports, the current trajectory could produce a substantial rise in diabetes, heart disease and other serious conditions among the next generation.
What policymakers can consider now
- Introduce or strengthen regulations limiting advertising of unhealthy foods to children.
- Ban sales of products high in salt, sugar and fat in schools and other child-focused settings.
- Implement front-of-pack labeling and fiscal measures (taxes/subsidies) to shift consumption toward whole foods.
- Invest in school- and community-based programs that increase availability of fruits, vegetables and lean proteins.
- Support public education campaigns and curb targeted digital marketing that reaches young audiences.
UNICEF?s findings make clear this is no longer only a problem of scarcity: the global face of child malnutrition has shifted, with implications for health systems, education and future economic growth. Decisions made now?about marketing rules, school food, and food-system incentives?will shape the health profile of an entire generation.
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