27
Jan

Childhood obesity is an escalating global concern, affecting both high-income and low- and middle-income countries. In 2023, over 37 million children under the age of five were overweight or obese globally, with the majority residing in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) where health systems are least prepared to respond effectively.

The rise in childhood obesity is driven by rapid urbanization, social and economic inequalities, increasingly obesogenic food environments, sedentary lifestyles, and pervasive marketing of ultra-processed foods. Obesity also poses serious health risks including increased likelihood of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), psychosocial challenges as well as long-term economic burdens on health systems. The issue is particularly pressing in the context of global demographic shifts, such as urbanization, declining fertility in high income settings, youth bulges in LMICs, and changing family structures, which are reshaping dietary patterns, physical activity levels, and access to health services, and creating complex pressures on health systems. Moreover, health systems often lack the inclusivity to address obesity prevention and management.

Left unchecked, childhood obesity will magnify the future burdens of NCDs, including type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases, further straining health systems already under demographic pressure.  Additionally, it will exacerbate the “Global Syndemic”—the co-occurrence and interaction of obesity, undernutrition, and climate change, driven by shared social, economic and political determinants—demanding systemic, coordinated actions that go beyond the health sector alone. This includes multisectoral collaboration—linking education, agriculture, urban planning, social protection, and health systems—to create enabling environments for healthy growth and development. Furthermore, to address childhood obesity, the age group of 5 to 19 years—previously overlooked by health systems and services—should become a key target. We must consider how to seamlessly incorporate this age group, coordinate efforts, and implement effective interventions. Inclusive health systems must also be strengthened with screening, timely identification and early treatment components to respond equitably to the needs of children with obesity and their families, particularly those in vulnerable communities. This integrated approach will not only strengthen both prevention and care but also support healthier trajectories across childhood and beyond.