Attention parents! The number of obese children has surpassed the number of non-obese children.
The United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF) has released a striking report on child obesity worldwide. Based on data from more than 190 countries, the report found that the number of obese children worldwide has surpassed the number of underweight children for the first time.
The report stated that 1 in 10 school-age children are affected by obesity, while 188 million children affected by this condition are at risk of contracting life-threatening diseases.
Since 2000, the underweight rate among children ages 5 to 19 has decreased from 13 percent to 9.2 percent, while the obesity rate has increased from 3 percent to 9.4 percent. Child obesity rates have surpassed underweight rates in every region of the world except Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said obesity is a major concern that seriously impacts children's health and development. She highlighted the increasing displacement of fruits, vegetables, and protein by ultra-processed foods. The report called on governments and civil society organizations to take urgent action to ensure children have access to nutritious foods.
(AA) This content was published by Mustafa Fidan
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