NEWS – According to UNICEF’s Child Nutrition Report 2025, obesity has now overtaken underweight as the dominant form of malnutrition among school-age children and adolescents.

HIGHLIGHTS

Globally, 5% of children under 5 and 20% of those aged 5–19 years are overweight. Since 2000, overweight cases in the 5–19 age group have doubled from 194 million to 391 million. Alarmingly, 42% of them suffer from obesity (163 million in 2022), up from 30% in 2000.

South Asia and India Trends

South Asia, once with the lowest prevalence, has seen a fivefold rise in adolescent overweight cases since 2000. India reflects this global trend sharply:

• Children under 5: Overweight prevalence rose 127% between NFHS-3 (2005–06) and NFHS-5 (2019–21).
• Adolescents: Obesity rose 125% (2.4% to 5.4%); overweight increased 288% (1.7% to 6.6%).
• Adults: Obesity increased 91% in women and 146% in men over the same period.

India is projected to have 27 million obese children and adolescents by 2030, accounting for 11% of the global burden.

Triple Burden of Malnutrition

India faces a triple burden:

1. Stunting and wasting
2. Micronutrient deficiencies
3. Obesity — often coexisting within families or individuals.

UNICEF India notes that urbanisation, exposure to media, and access to ultraprocessed foods are driving this surge.

Causes and Concerns

The report highlights:

• Aggressive marketing and unethical practices of the food industry.
• Increasing availability of inexpensive ultraprocessed foods.
• Rising digital marketing of breastmilk substitutes.

Recommendations

UNICEF calls for urgent action through:

• Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.
• Promotion of breastfeeding and restrictions on digital promotion of breastmilk alternatives.
• Policy interventions to curb consumption of ultraprocessed foods.