Report highlights alarming global rise of unhealthy diets and childhood obesity, largely driven by proliferation and aggressive marketing of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and beverages.
Key Findings of the Report
- 5% children under-5 years of age and 20% children and adolescents aged 5–19 years is now living with overweight, a number that has doubled since 2000.
- In 2025, prevalence of obesity was 9.4% whereas prevalence of underweight was 9.2% among school-age children and adolescents.
- Regional concentration: More than half of all affected children live in three regions: East Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and South Asia.
- In South Asia, since 2000, prevalence of overweight among those aged 5-19 increased almost fivefold by 2022.
- Key drivers
- Availability and affordability of UPFs: UPFs are often cheaper than nutritious foods due to agricultural subsidies for key ingredients (corn, soy, wheat) and long shelf-lives, making them an accessible option for low-income families, etc.
- Aggressive and unregulated marketing: Targeted digital marketing, surrogate advertisements through influencers blurring distinction between content and ads, etc.
- Policy gaps: Only 7% have mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling, only 8% have food subsidies for healthy foods, etc.
Key Recommendations
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