UNICEF says Indian kids are obese know why

Obesity overtakes underweight as the new dominant form of malnutrition among children

• According to a study conducted by the UNICEF, obesity has now surpassed underweight as the new more dominant form of malnutrition among children under the age of five and adolescents over the globe.
• UNICEF’s Child Nutrition Report 2025 has found that low and middle-income countries are witnessing the steepest rise in obesity among children under the age of five and adolescents aged 5-19.
• In India, there is a rapid growth in overweight and obesity among children under the age of five, with prevalence growing from 2005-2006 to NHFS 5 2019-2021.

What did the study on obesity in children under the age of five show?

• The study found that globally, one in twenty children under the age of five, which account for 20%, are overweight.
• From 2000, the number of children aged 5-19 years who are overweight has doubled from 194 million to 391 million.
• In South Asia, where the lowest prevalence of overweight adolescents in 2000, the prevalence grew almost fivefold by 2022.
• According to the study, “Obesity accounts for a growing share of all overweight cases. In 2022, 42 per cent of all children and adolescents aged 5-19 years living with overweight had obesity (163 million out of 391 million), up from 30 per cent in 2000 (58 million out of 194 million).”
• In India, citing NFHS data, the report shows the rise of obesity among adolescents has been 125%, thereby, rising from 2.4% to 5.4%.
• Among overweight children, it has been 288%, thereby, rising from 1.7% to 6.6%.
• In adults, the prevalence grew by 91% among women, thereby, rising from 12.6% to 24% and 146% among men, thereby, rising from 9.3% to 22.9%, all pointing towards a nationwide health crisis.
• According to the report, “India is expected to be home to over 127 million children and adolescents (5-19 years) living with obesity by 2030 and will account for 11% of the global burden.”
• Marie-Claude Desilets, Chief of Nutrition at UNICEF India said, “With this high level of media exposure and easy access to unhealthy food, India is also following the same global trend with rapid rise in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity. The country is beginning to face the triple burden of malnutrition – stunting & wasting, micronutrient deficiencies and obesity – often coexisting in the same family or even the same person. India has a unique opportunity to act now to prevent overweight and obesity in children.”
• The study showed that cheap ultra-processed foods and the unethical practices of the industry has led to a growth in their consumption.

UN Body’s recommendations

• The UN Body has listed recommendations including the implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent World Health Assembly resolutions to preserve and promote breastfeeding which includes digital marketing of breastmilk alternatives.
• The UNICEF has also called for comprehensive policies for improving the availability and affordability of local produced nutritious foods for children and adolescents, as well as engaging the youth in public policymaking.
• Strengthen global and national data and surveillance systems to monitor food environments, diets, and overweight among children and adolescents using standardized indicators and data collection methods,” the UN Body recommends.

Editor’s Note

• With the steep rise in obesity among children and adolescents aged 5-19 years, it is high time that the availability of locally produced nutritious foods is made available to children and adolescents. It is now or never as India has the unique opportunity to act now to prevent overweight and obesity in children. It will be interesting to see how the Indian government handles this nationwide health crisis.