Obesity trends in children globally
The prevalence of obesity has been increasing worldwide among children and adolescents over the past four decades. Between 1990 and 2022, child and adolescent obesity increased in 186 countries for girls, and 195 countries for boys. The largest increases were observed in island nations of Polynesia and Micronesia, and the Caribbean, Brunei and Chile.
Key Evidence
Around the world, 6.9% of girls and 9.3% of boys were living with obesity in 2022
Obesity rates vary dramatically between countries and regions, with some of the highest rates in pacific island countries
Childhood obesity around the world
The NCD Risk Factor Collaboration estimated that in 2022, 65.1 million girls and 94.2 million boys aged 5-19 were living with obesity globally.1
Detailed data from 2022 showed that more than 30% of girls in the Bahamas, Tonga, Cook Islands, and Niue were living with obesity; and the same was true for boys in Tonga, Palau, Tuvalu, American Samoa, Chile, Tokelau, Nauru, Cook Islands, and Niue.1 2
A snapshot of childhood obesity
NCD Risk Factor Collaboration. Worldwide trends in body-mass index, underweight, overweight, and obesity from 1975 to 2016: a pooled analysis of 2416 population-based measurement studies in 128.9 million children, adolescents, and adults. The Lancet, 2017; 390(10113):2627-2642.
NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (2017). Child & Adolescent Body-Mass Index - global data. from http://www.ncdrisc.org/data-downloads-adiposity-ado.html
Global trends in childhood obesity
After controlling for age, the global prevalence of obesity for girls increased from 1.7% in 1990 to 6.9% in 2022, and 2.1% to 9.3% for boys, while rates of underweight decreased for both boys and girls over this time.1
The prevalence of obesity is relatively low in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) but is rapidly increasing over time. This has been driven by a transition away from traditional diets to more 'western' style diets characterised by highly processed foods high in sugar and fat, sometimes described as the ‘nutrition transition’.3 This means many LMICs are living with the double burden of under and over nutrition, leading to poorer educational and diet-related health outcomes across the life course.1
Global trends in childhood obesity among boys
NCD RisC (NCD Risk Factor Collaboration) ncdrisc.org
Note: Obesity defined as BMI >2 standard deviations above the median for age and sex, according to international reference.
Global trends in childhood obesity among girls
NCD Risk Factor Collaboration. ncdrisc.org
Note: Obesity defined as BMI >2 standard deviations above the median for age and sex, according to international reference.
Content for this page was written by Melanie Nichols, Deakin University and reviewed by Kathryn Backholer and Gary Sacks, Co-Directors at the Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition at Deakin University. For more information about the approach to content on the site please see About | Obesity Evidence Hub.