UNICEF Warns of Global Nutrition Crisis as Childhood Obesity Surpasses Underweight

A 2025 UNICEF Child Nutrition Report has sounded the alarm on a worsening global nutrition crisis, revealing that, for the first time in history, more children and adolescents are obese than underweight.

The report, released Tuesday, shows that 391 million children and adolescents—roughly one in five worldwide—are overweight, with 42 percent classified as obese. Since 2000, the number of overweight school-age children has more than doubled, climbing from 194 million to 391 million.

Strikingly, over 80 percent of these cases are now found in low- and middle-income countries, highlighting a dramatic global shift once thought to affect mainly wealthier nations. UNICEF attributes the surge largely to the aggressive marketing and widespread consumption of ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks, which are steadily replacing nutritious options such as fruits and vegetables in children’s diets.

The report emphasizes that childhood overweight and obesity are no longer isolated problems but a worldwide emergency. In 2025, a historic tipping point was reached: obesity rates among children aged 5 to 19 (9.4 percent) surpassed underweight rates (9.2 percent).

UNICEF warns that these unhealthy eating patterns often begin in early childhood and continue into adolescence, where processed and sugary foods have become dietary staples. Globally, 60 percent of adolescents reported consuming more than one sugary food or beverage in a single day, while 32 percent consumed soft drinks and 25 percent ate more than one salty processed snack.

The influence of junk food marketing is also widespread. A global U-Report survey revealed that three out of four young people saw junk food advertisements within a week, with digital marketing strategies increasingly targeting children beyond the awareness of parents and regulators.

The report stresses that delaying action on malnutrition will worsen future health costs, raise risks of chronic diseases, and deepen inequalities. “Without bold action to transform food environments, today’s generation of children will face a lifetime burden of poor health,” it warns.