Overweight now outpaces underweight among children: UNICEF report

Globally, overweight has surpassed underweight as the main form of malnutrition among school-age children and adolescents, according to UNICEF’s latest report. In 2022, 20% of children aged 5–19 were overweight, compared to only 10% who were underweight. This marks a sharp reversal from 2000, when 13% were underweight and 11% overweight.

Ultra-Processed Foods Under Scrutiny

The report attributes the surge in overweight children to the ultra-processed food (UPF) and beverage industry, urging governments to take steps to protect children’s diets. Titled “Feeding Profit: How food environments are failing children”, the report highlights the disproportionate influence of this industry on children’s food environments.

“It (UPF and beverage industry) shapes what foods and beverages are produced and how they are marketed, especially in settings where govt regulation is weak or absent. In pursuit of profit, the industry leverages vast financial resources and deep political influence to resist policies aimed at creating healthier, more equitable food environments,” the report stated.


The report found that low and middle-income countries are seeing the steepest increases in overweight among school-age children. Unhealthy foods and beverages, including ultra-processed options, are widely available, cheap, and heavily marketed in areas where children live, learn, and play.

Schools as Marketing Grounds

Studies in Tanzania and Zimbabwe revealed that public-private partnerships have allowed UPF companies to distribute their products in schools. This builds brand loyalty among students and boosts corporate reputation. “The unethical business practices of the ultra-processed food and beverage industry undermine efforts to put legal measures and policies in place to protect children from unhealthy food environments,” the report added.

Recommendations for Governments

UNICEF recommends governments establish strong safeguards to protect public policy from industry interference. This includes conflict-of-interest measures and excluding UPF and beverage companies from policymaking processes and implementation.

[With TOI inputs]