Unicef has warned governments to protect children’s diets from unhealthy ingredients and to stop the ultra-processed food industry from interfering in policy decisions – this after it released findings from a major study showing that for the first time, there are more obese than underweight children in the world.
BBC reports that about one in 10 of those aged between five and 19-years-old – around 188m children and young people – are now thought to be affected by obesity.
The researchers have blamed a shift from traditional diets to those heavily reliant on ultra-processed foods, which are relatively cheap and high in calories.
Overweight and malnourished
When health experts used to refer to malnourished children, that was often read as those who were underweight.
Now, however, that term also refers to the impact of obesity on the health and development of children. Even in poorer countries that is now a real concern.
Children are considered overweight when they are significantly heavier than a healthy weight for their age, sex and height.
Throughout childhood, good nutrition, including plenty of fruit, vegetables and protein, plays a vital role in growth, cognitive development and mental health, but many traditional diets are being displaced by ultra-processed foods, often high in sugar, starch, salt, unhealthy fats and additives.
Unicef executive director Catherine Russell said the challenges posed by obesity should not be under-estimated. “It’s a growing concern that can affect the health and development of children,” she added.
Under-nutrition, which can manifest itself as wasting and stunting, remains a significant problem in the under-fives in many low and middle income countries, but the latest Unicef study – which draws on data from more than 190 countries – finds the prevalence of underweight children aged 5-19 has declined since 2000, from nearly 13% to 9.2%.
However, obesity rates have shot up from 3% to 9.4%, meaning that almost one in 10 children are now obese.
The number of overweight children, which includes those who are obese, has also increased to the extent that now one in five school-age children and adolescents is overweight: roughly 391m children across the globe, the study estimates.
Obesity now exceeds underweight in all regions of the world, except sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Russell said: “In many countries we are seeing the double burden of malnutrition – the existence of stunting and obesity. This requires targeted interventions. We urgently need policies that support parents and caretakers to access nutritious and healthy foods for their children.”
Call to action
Unicef warns that the health impacts and economic costs of doing nothing are potentially enormous.
The report estimates that by 2035, the global economic impact of overweight and obesity is expected to surpass $4trn annually.
It urges governments to take action, including on the labelling and marketing of food.
That might also include legal measures to protect children’s diets by removing ultra-processed foods from school canteens, introducing taxes on unhealthy foods and drinks, and encouraging food producers to make changes to products – known as reformulation – to limit unhealthy ingredients and harmful substitutes.
The report also calls for policy making to be protected from interference by the ultra-processed food industry.
Ultra-processed food and drink producers could be banned from involvement in developing and implementing policy, and any industry political lobbying would have to be officially reported.
BBC article – More children are obese than underweight, says Unicef (Open access)
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
South African children’s height and BMI a cause for concern, say researchers
Overweight boys risk genes of future offspring – Norwegian study
Well-being and health of world’s teens in peril – Lancet global experts
Poor diet puts SA children at risk of lifestyle diseases – Gqeberha study