Context:

Recently, UNICEF’s published Child Nutrition Report 2025, which has raised serious concerns about the global state of children’s diets and health. For the first time in recorded history, childhood obesity has surpassed underweight as the most prevalent form of malnutrition among children and adolescents aged 5–19.

Key Findings of the report:

• Historic Shift in 2025: Obesity among children aged 5–19 now stands at 9.4%, compared to 9.2% who are underweight — marking a major turning point in global malnutrition trends.
• Surge in Numbers: Since 2000, the number of overweight children and adolescents has more than doubled, rising from 194 million to 391 million.
• Widespread Impact in Developing Nations: Over 80% of all overweight children now live in low- and middle-income countries, where undernutrition and obesity often coexist.
• Poor Childhood Diets: Many young children (6–23 months) lack access to basic nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, and protein, while high consumption of sugary, salty, and ultra-processed foods begins alarmingly early.

Drivers of Unhealthy Food Environments:

• Aggressive and Targeted Marketing: A global youth poll found that 3 in 4 children saw junk food ads in just the past week — especially on digital platforms that are difficult for parents or regulators to monitor.
• Easy Access to Junk Food: In many parts of the world, ultra-processed foods are cheaper and more available than fresh, healthy options, particularly for low-income families.
• Lack of Strong Policies: Weak regulations and enforcement allow the unchecked spread of unhealthy food and beverage products, especially in school zones and urban neighborhoods.

Consequences of Inaction:

• Lifetime Health Burdens: If no action is taken, children today face a lifetime risk of obesity-linked diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.
• Economic Costs: By 2035, the global financial burden of overweight and obesity is expected to exceed $4 trillion annually, affecting health systems, productivity, and economies.

Recommendations from UNICEF:

1.       Implement Strong Food Policies:

o    Ban marketing of junk food to children

o    Introduce taxes on sugary drinks

o    Use front-of-pack warning labels

2.      Promote Healthy Diets Early:

o    Encourage exclusive breastfeeding

o    Ensure access to fresh, local foods

o    Educate parents and caregivers on nutrition

3.      Engage Young People:

o    Support youth-led advocacy on food justice

o    Include adolescents in food policy discussions

4.     Strengthen Data & Surveillance:

o    Collect and use data to track diet patterns, food environments, and childhood obesity trends

Key Government Programs to address malnutrition in India:

1. POSHAN Abhiyaan

·         Targets children (0–6 yrs), pregnant & lactating women

·         Focus on first 1,000 days of life

·         Uses technology, cross-sector coordination, and community outreach

2. ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services)

·         Provides supplementary nutrition, check-ups, and preschool education

·         Challenges: Underfunding, quality gaps, and staff shortages

3. PM POSHAN (Mid-Day Meal Scheme)

·         Hot meals for school children

·         Boosts nutrition and school attendance

·         Excludes under-6 children and was hit during COVID-19

Conclusion:

The report calls for bold global action to transform food environments, regulate marketing, and ensure children have access to nutritious, affordable, and culturally appropriate diets — before the world’s youth are fed further into failure.