According to UNICEF, the past two decades have reshaped the global map of child health. While malnutrition and underweight were the primary concerns until recently, obesity is now on the rise. Statistics show that in the 5-to-19 age group, obesity rates are increasing at an accelerating pace, and by 2025, nearly one in ten children or adolescents is expected to struggle with this chronic condition. This shift not only signals a rise in physical health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, and metabolic disorders but also represents a major warning for health systems and governments worldwide.

Role of Ruthless Marketing and Industrial Foods

UNICEF’s report explicitly points to extensive and “unethical” food industry marketing as a central driver of this crisis. Flashy advertisements, attractive packaging, and deceptive pricing have made children and adolescents more dependent than ever on ultra-processed foods such as packaged snacks, carbonated drinks, and fast foods. Easy access to these products—even in countries still struggling with food poverty and malnutrition—has created the paradox of “obesity and hunger” coexisting in the same society. This serves as a serious alarm for public health policymakers, who must resist the commercial influence of the food industry.

Staggering Statistics: Childhood Obesity Doubles

Global data indicate that between 2000 and 2022, the number of overweight children and adolescents rose from 194 million to 391 million. In less than a generation, the childhood obesity crisis has nearly doubled. Analytical charts show that across age groups, the crossover point between declining underweight rates and rising obesity rates has rapidly approached—or even passed. For example, among 5-to-9-year-olds, obesity surpassed underweight in 2019. For the 10-to-14 and 15-to-19 age groups, this shift is expected by 2028 and 2029, respectively. These global trends clearly indicate that in the near future, obesity will be the primary nutritional threat to the younger generation.

A Global Responsibility: From Education to Policy

Warnings alone are not enough to solve this crisis; coordinated global action is essential. The first step is to implement policies that curb targeted food industry marketing. Governments should prioritize restrictions on unhealthy advertising, particularly in children’s media and on social networks. Simultaneously, educating families and schools about healthy nutrition, developing infrastructure to provide access to fresh, local foods, and promoting active lifestyles—including school-based sports—can help moderate current trends. If the global community fails to manage this threat, the healthcare and social costs of a sick, inactive generation will far exceed those of preventive interventions.