KARACHI:
One in five children and adolescents worldwide — about 391 million in total — are now living with overweight, according to UNICEF’s 2025 Child Nutrition Report. Alarmingly, 42 per cent of them are affected by obesity, a severe form of overweight that poses lifelong health risks.
The report highlights a historic shift: for the first time, obesity has overtaken underweight as the more prevalent form of malnutrition among school-age children and adolescents. Since 2000, obesity rates among children aged 5–19 have tripled, rising from 3 per cent to 9.4 per cent, while underweight declined from 13 per cent to 9.2 per cent.
Experts link this surge to the widespread marketing and availability of ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks. A UNICEF survey of 64,000 young people found that 75 per cent had seen advertisements for such products in the past week, with most saying the ads encouraged consumption. Sixty per cent of adolescents aged 15–19 reported consuming more than one sugary food or beverage the previous day.
Ultra-processed products — high in sugar, salt, unhealthy fats and additives — are increasingly dominating shops, schools and digital platforms, reshaping diets and fuelling the obesity epidemic. UNICEF warns that without urgent action, millions of children face heightened risks of chronic illnesses including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.
The report stresses that stronger measures across food, health, education, water and sanitation, and social protection systems are essential to transform food environments. It also highlights the need for better data collection to guide national strategies and track progress.
UNICEF has also released a statistical booklet alongside the report, providing a concise overview of key nutrition indicators for children and adolescents.
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