Childhood obesity has now surpassed undernourishment as the most common form of malnutrition among children and adolescents globally, a new UNICEF study reveals.

Nearly one in ten youth aged five to nineteen are living with obesity, driven by the rise of ultra-processed foods and targeted marketing.

Even countries still facing undernutrition are seeing increased access to unhealthy options, a trend UNICEF describes as a systemic failure, not just individual decisions.

From 2000 to 2022, the number of overweight youths worldwide more than doubled, with the percentage classified as obese surging from 3% to 8%.

In the United States, the crisis is especially severe: 19.7% of children, or 14.7 million, are considered obese, with higher rates among Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and lower-income families.

The financial impact is considerable, as annual medical costs related to childhood obesity have reached $1.3 billion nationwide.

UNICEF urges immediate government intervention to protect children, highlighting the need for stricter food regulations, taxes on harmful products, and better access to nutritious foods.