The world’s fight against hunger has taken a disturbing turn. New data from UNICEF’s 2025 Child Nutrition Report shows that 9.4 percent of children aged 5 to 19 now live with obesity, compared to 9.2 percent who are underweight. The figures mark the first recorded crossover in global history and signal a new phase in child malnutrition.
UNICEF estimates that 188 million children are living with obesity. The agency reports that decades of progress against undernutrition have been overshadowed by the rapid spread of diets filled with ultra-processed food. These products have become the foundation of childhood diets in nearly every region.
Ultra-processed foods are cheap, accessible, and aggressively marketed. They dominate store shelves, school cafeterias, and online ads. In many low-income countries, these products cost less than fresh produce. In wealthier nations, they are a daily staple. Schools now serve processed meats, fried items, and sugary drinks as regular meals.
Marketing plays a major role in the global shift. A UNICEF survey found that three out of four young people had seen advertisements for junk food or soft drinks in just one week. Most of these ads appear online and target children through social media.
Regions such as the Pacific Islands record child obesity rates above 30 percent. The United States reports 21 percent, and Chile reports 27 percent. Meanwhile, South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa continue to struggle with hunger. UNICEF warns that both extremes now exist in the same generation.
The agency projects that by 2035, obesity-related diseases could cost the global economy more than four trillion dollars every year. Hunger declined, but nutrition collapsed. The world’s children are eating more food and receiving less nourishment.
