Overview

• UNICEF’s new analysis finds 9.4% of children and adolescents aged 5–19 now have obesity versus 9.2% who are underweight, marking a 2025 tipping point based on data through 2022 and recent trends.
• About 188 million youths meet WHO obesity criteria, while roughly one in five in this age group are overweight overall, totaling an estimated 391 million.
• Obesity now exceeds underweight in all regions except sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, with Pacific Island countries such as Niue and the Cook Islands near 37–38%.
• The report identifies ultra-processed foods and pervasive junk-food marketing as primary drivers; in a UNICEF poll, 75% of 13–24 year-olds saw ads for sugary drinks, snacks or fast food in the past week.
• UNICEF urges binding policies including bans on ultra-processed foods in schools, strict marketing restrictions, taxes on unhealthy products and clearer food labelling to protect children.