Child Nutrition Report 2025
About
The Child Nutrition Report 2025 draws on data from over 190 countries and includes household surveys, modelled estimates, projections, and polls.
Data on overweight, stunting and wasting among children under the age of 5 from 2000-2024 are based on UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Joint Child Malnutrition estimates.
For children and adolescents aged 5-19 years, data on overweight, obesity and underweight is modelled using population-based surveys, administrative data or studies that measured height and weight in representative samples. Country level data is available from 2000-2022 and coordinated by the Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC).
To ascertain obesity surpassing underweight among children aged 5-19 years, UNICEF projected prevalence from 2022 onwards, based on trends in prevalence of obesity and underweight from 2010 to 2022.
Categories of overweight, obesity and underweight (thinness) are defined based on body mass index (BMI). For school-aged children and adolescents aged 5-19 years:
- Overweight is defined as a BMI greater than 1 standard deviation above the median, according to the WHO references for school-age children and adolescents.
- Obesity is defined as a BMI greater than 2 standard deviations above the median, according to the WHO references for school-age children and adolescents.
- Underweight, also known as thinness, is defined as a BMI less than 2 standard deviations below the median, according to the WHO references for school-age children and adolescents.
Child malnutrition has three dimensions: undernutrition (stunting and wasting), overweight/obesity and hidden hunger or micronutrient deficiencies.
Ultra-processed foods are industrially formulated foods and beverages made primarily from refined ingredients and additives, with little or no whole foods. They often contain high levels of added sugars, refined starches, salt, and unhealthy fats, and are designed to be convenient, highly palatable, and appealing through marketing, packaging, and branding.
