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ISLAMABAD: Childhood obesity now exceeds underweight among school-aged children and adolescents in every region except sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, according to a new UNICEF report released Wednesday.&nbsp;The report, titled &quot;Feeding Profit: How Food Environments are Failing Children&quot;, warns that one in five children aged 5&ndash;19 is now classified as overweight, with a growing share living with obesity. The total number of affected children and adolescents globally has reached 188 million.&nbsp;Drawing from data in over 190 countries, the report highlights a dramatic rise in obesity rates &mdash; from just 3% a few decades ago to 9.4% today. UNICEF attributes the spike to a global shift away from traditional diets toward cheaper, ultra-processed foods that are high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats.&nbsp;&ldquo;Ultra-processed food is increasingly replacing fruits, vegetables, and protein at a time when nutrition plays a critical role in children&rsquo;s growth, cognitive development, and mental health,&rdquo; said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.&nbsp;The report emphasizes that obesity is now more prevalent than underweight in every region except sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where undernutrition remains a critical concern.&nbsp;UNICEF warned that overweight children are at greater risk of developing serious health problems, including insulin resistance, high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even certain cancers.&nbsp;The agency called on governments to regulate unhealthy food environments, limit marketing of junk food to children, and promote access to healthy and affordable diets.

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Global agency warns childhood obesity surpasses underweight globally, except in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Articles tagged with "UNICEF"

UNICEF warns of rising global childhood obesity rates