According to scientists, by 2040, more than 220 million children aged 5 to 19 worldwide will be obese, and more than half a billion more children are at risk of becoming overweight if healthier environments are not created for them. This is stated in the report of the World Obesity Federation, informs The Guardian.
As of By 2025, an estimated 180 million children will be obese, and by 2039, that number could rise to about 227 million. In addition, at least 120 million school-age children will have early signs of chronic diseases caused by a high body mass index (BMI).
The report found that 27 million children in the United States are obese or overweight, while the largest number of schoolchildren with a high BMI live in China (62 million) and India (41 million).
The study also found significant regional disparities: the 10 countries with the highest proportion of overweight or obese children are located in the Western Pacific region and the Americas. The fastest growth in childhood obesity is observed mainly in low- and middle-income countries.
The report did not analyze the situation with the weight of children in Ukraine.
The Regional Advisor on Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity at the World Health Organization in Europe, Dr. Kremlin Wickramasinghe, noted that childhood obesity is a “failure of their environment” and called for the introduction of mandatory marketing restrictions or labeling on the front of food packaging.
