For the first time, more children in the world are obese than underweight, report finds

(Gray News) - For the first time in history, more children are obese than underweight, according to a recent nutrition report.

The United Nations Children’s Fund shared data from more than 190 countries and said it found that one in 10 school-aged children, or 188 million, are now thought to be affected by obesity.

“Obesity now exceeds underweight in all regions of the world, except sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia,” the report stated.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said obesity is a growing concern that can impact the health and development of children.

“Ultra-processed food is increasingly replacing fruits, vegetables and protein at a time when nutrition plays a critical role in children’s growth, cognitive development and mental health,” she said.

According to the