UNICEF Warns Childhood Obesity Has Surpassed Undernutrition, With 188 Million Youths Affected Globally (Photo: Pixabay)Childhood obesity has overtaken undernutrition as the most prevalent form of malnutrition worldwide, according to a new report from UNICEF that highlights the growing health risks facing children and adolescents. The United Nations agency said 188 million youths are now obese, a figure that exceeds the global number of underweight children for the first time. UNICEF estimated that in 2022 alone, 8% of children aged five to 19-or 163 million-were obese, up from just 3% in 2000. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell added, "When we talk about malnutrition, we are no longer just talking about underweight children. UNICEF attributed the surge in obesity to the widespread availability of ultra-processed foods and aggressive marketing campaigns targeting children.