One in 10 children aged 5 to 19 – 188 million worldwide – Now live with obesity, placing them at increased risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers.
“When we talk about malnutrition, we are no longer talking about insufficient children,” said Unicef Executive director Catherine Russell.
“Obesity is an increasing concern that can have an impact on children’s health and development. Ultra-transformed foods are increasingly replacing fruits, vegetables and proteins At a time when nutrition plays an essential role in children’s growth, cognitive development and mental health, “she added.
The report, Food profit: how food environments fail childrenBases on data from more than 190 countries and highlights a brutal change.
One in five out of five
Since 2000, the number of insufficient people among five to 19 years old has increased from almost 13% to 9.2%.
During the same period, obesity tripled, from three% to 9.4%. Today, obesity rates go beyond sub-ponderation in each region, except sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
The situation is particularly acute in the Pacific islands, where traditional regimes have been moved by cheap -up -based and energy -rich foods.
High income countries are not exempt: 27% of children in Chile and 21% in the United States and the United Arab Emirates are affected.
Worldwide, One in five children and adolescents, or 391 million, are overweightWith almost half now classified as obese.
Children are considered overweight when they are much heavier than what is healthy for their age, sex and size.
Obesity is a severe form of overweight and leads to a higher risk of developing insulin resistance and high blood pressure, as well as potentially fatal diseases later in life, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.
A consumer in Mongolia eats a sweet desert.
Marketing to blame
The report indicates that powerful sales forces shaping these results. Ultra-trained and fast foods, rich in sugar, salt, unhealthy fats and additives, dominate children’s diets and are marketed aggressivelyinfluencing children’s diet.
In a UNICEF survey of 64,000 young people in 170 countries, 75% said they saw announcements for sugary drinks, snacks or fast food the previous week.
Sixty percent said that the announcements made them want to eat the products. Even in countries affected by conflicts, 68% of young people said they were exposed to these advertisements.
These models warn UNICEF, have astounding economic consequences. By 2035, the global cost of overweight and obesity levels should exceed 4 dollars per year. In Peru alone, health problems related to obesity could cost more than $ 210 billion in a generation.
The government must act
However, some governments act. Mexico-where sugary drinks and ultra-transformed food represent 40% of children’s daily calories-has prohibited their sale in public schools, improving food environments for more than 34 million children.
UNICEF urges governments around the world to follow up on radical reforms: compulsory food labeling, marketing restrictions and taxes on unhealthy products; Prohibit junk food in schools; stronger social protection programs; and guarantees to protect the development of industry interference policies.
“In many countries, we see the double burden of malnutrition, the existence of growth delay and obesity. This requires targeted interventions, “said Russell.
“” Nutritious and affordable foods must be available for each child to support their growth and development. We need the urgency of policies that support parents and guards to access nutritious and healthy foods for their children, “she concluded.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
