The World Health Organization (WHO) has published its latest 2025 Global Childhood Obesity Observatory report, revealing a sharp upward trend in childhood overweight and obesity rates across low- and middle-income countries over the past decade. The report estimates that by 2025, more than 39 million children under the age of five are living with overweight or obesity globally – a 10 million increase from figures recorded in 2015.
Data shows that the fastest growth is occurring in the African region, where childhood overweight rates have risen by 8% since 2000, outpacing growth rates in all other WHO regions. Experts attribute this sharp increase to a combination of factors, including the rapid expansion of ultra-processed food marketing targeted at children, increasing urbanization that has reduced opportunities for active play, and inadequate access to affordable nutritious food in low-income communities.
“What we are seeing is a silent public health emergency that is unfolding right in front of our eyes,” said Dr. Maria Chen, WHO’s Director of Nutrition for Health and Development, in a press briefing launching the report. “Childhood obesity does not just affect a child’s physical health in the short term. It increases their risk of developing chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers later in life, and it also has significant impacts on mental health and educational outcomes.”
The report calls on governments around the world to implement coordinated, multi-sectoral policy actions to reverse this trend. Key recommendations include implementing restrictions on marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children, introducing mandatory front-of-package warning labels, improving access to affordable fresh fruit and vegetables in underserved communities, and integrating nutrition education into early childhood education curricula.
Dr. Chen emphasized that the problem is solvable with timely, committed action. “If countries act now to implement these evidence-based policies, we can cut childhood obesity rates by 25% by 2030,” she said. “But delay will only lead to higher public health costs, greater burden on health systems, and a generation of children facing life-limiting health conditions.”