Obesity has outpaced undernourishment to become the leading form of malnutrition worldwide for the first time among children and teenagers, according to UNICEF.

The United Nations children’s agency stated in a report released on Tuesday that nearly one in 10 children aged five to 19 is living with the chronic disease. The epidemic is being fuelled by easy availability of ultra-processed foods “even in countries still grappling with child undernutrition” and aggressive marketing.

Today, “when we talk about malnutrition, we are no longer just talking about underweight children”, UNICEF chief Catherine Russell said in a statement accompanying the release of the report: “Feeding Profit: How Food Environments are Failing Children”.

“Ultra-processed food is increasingly replacing fruits, vege

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