Growing up overweight: how food environments are failing a generation
From classrooms to smartphones, children are surrounded by unhealthy food choices
Every child deserves a healthy start in life – but that promise is fast slipping away.
In East Asia and the Pacific, over 113 million children are now living with overweight or obesity – that’s one in four, nearly triple the number two decades ago.
Cheap junk food and sugary drinks are everywhere. From classrooms to smartphones, children are surrounded by aggressive marketing that pushes unhealthy choices. The result? An entire generation is growing up with the consequences of unhealthy food environments.
East Asia and the Pacific home to one in four overweight children
East Asia and the Pacific is now home to the largest number of children with overweight in the world. The crisis begins early and worsens with age: nearly one in eight children under 5 with overweight live here, and more than one in five children aged 5–19 are affected. Nearly one in four children with obesity worldwide are in this region.
In East Asia and the Pacific, obesity among children is rising much faster than overweight. Since 2000, overweight in 5–19-year-olds has nearly tripled, while obesity has increased more than fourfold.
Two decades ago, one in four overweight children were obese; today it’s nearly one in two.
And this is no longer a “rich country” problem. In 2000, most children with overweight lived in wealthier countries. By 2022, one in three children with overweight were living in low- or lower-middle income countries. Families with the least are being hit the hardest, often without access to the food and healthcare they need.
The price of inaction
The costs go far beyond body weight. Children with overweight are more likely to miss school, struggle with self-esteem, and face bullying. Many already suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart problems. These are lifelong disadvantages that no child should endure.
The economic toll is equally stark. By 2060, unchecked obesity could cost China an estimated US$10 trillion, Indonesia US$380 billion, and Thailand US$180 billion. Smaller economies face even sharper losses: overweight could drain 12.4 per cent of GDP in Vanuatu and 8.9 per cent in Timor-Leste.
Projected economic losses from overweight and obesity by 2060 (absolute costs and % GDP)
This is not just unaffordable. It is unacceptable.
Turning policy into progress
Change is possible. In Thailand, a draft Marketing Act would restrict junk food advertising to children after strong backing from young people. In Viet Nam, youth advocates helped push through a soda tax in 2025, one of the most powerful tools to cut consumption. In Malaysia, years of monitoring and advocacy led to stronger sugar taxes, forcing companies to reformulate drinks. And in Cambodia, a UNICEF-supported nutrient profile model revealed that many foods marketed for toddlers were unhealthy, prompting draft national standards.
These wins show what is possible when governments, communities, and young people demand change.
Young people leading the way
Children and adolescents are not just victims of this crisis – they are also leading the fight. Through the Fix My Food campaign, young people across the region have spoken out about how junk food marketing shapes their lives and called for healthier, fairer food systems. In Viet Nam, youth champions didn’t just share opinions – they gathered data, interviewed peers, and used their findings to convince lawmakers. Their voices made a difference.
The way forward: a call to action
The next five years before 2030 are critical. Childhood is our best chance to prevent overweight and obesity before they become lifelong burdens. Once a child becomes overweight, it is very difficult to reverse.
Solutions exist – but urgent action is needed. Without it, the steepest increases will fall on low- and middle-income countries with the least resources to cope, straining fragile health systems and economies for decades.
We can change this. If governments, communities, and businesses work together, healthy food can become affordable and available for every child, everywhere.