Obesity worldwide exceeded thinness, becoming the most common form of malnutrition between children and adolescents for the first time, according to a nutrition report issued by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The report shows that the percentage of thinness between the age group from 5 to 19 years decreased from about 13% in 2000 to 2.9%, while obesity increased from 3% to 4.9% during the same period. Obesity has exceeded thinness in most regions, with the exception of sub -Saharan Africa and South Asia.
The results are based on data from more than 190 countries, which included family surveys, estimates, projection models and other research, according to “UNICEF Germany.”
High -income countries record highly high obesity rates among young people, reaching 27% in Chile and 21% in the United States. In Germany, one out of every 4 ranges between the ages of 5 and 19, which is considered overweight, with a slight increase from 24% in 2000 to 25% in 2022, while the obesity rate remained stable at 8%.
“Malnutrition is no longer limited to underweight children. Obesity is a growing problem that may affect children’s health and growth. Excessive foods are gradually solved by fruits, vegetables and proteins in a decisive stage of growth, cognitive development and mental health,” said Catherine Russell.
The report warns that cheap and excessive foods and fast foods that market intensively contribute to high obesity rates. Also, obesity may affect school perseverance, self -confidence and social integration, and it is often difficult to treat if it is established from childhood or adolescence.