Cheap, Sugary Foods Driving Rising Obesity Among Children, Says UNICEF Report

Whenever we hear the word malnutrition, we tend to imagine thinness and frailty. It is usually identified with being undernourished. But health experts announced on Monday that it is also becoming an increasing threat to obesity and diabetes.

According to UNICEF, by 2025, the global burden of obesity among school-age children and adolescents will surpass underweight for the first time. This dramatic shift in malnutrition threatens the health and future prospects of children, communities, and countries.

The UN agency's Child Nutrition Report highlights how unhealthy food environments are contributing to the global problem of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents. Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the Indian Medical Association, Cochin, Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan explained, "When we hear the word malnutrition, we tend to think of thin children or adults. But in the present day, malnutrition can also result in obesity. Poor people, with limited awareness, tend to buy cheap foods and beverages that have a lot of sugar and fat, but little nutrition.".

This can be demonstrated by sweet soft drinks. They are endorsed by celebrities and cheaply marketed, but they lead to obesity and diabetes. In comparison with comparatively educated people who eat a nutrient-rich diet with much water, protein, fiber, fruits, and vegetables, these individuals opt for sweet beverages, oil-based fried foods, and packaged items that are comparatively cheaper.

Experts also say that malnourished mothers give birth to children who grow up to be obese, especially when food is plentiful.

According to a study published in the journal Cell Metabolism, Indian researchers studied the effects of malnutrition on 50 generations of mice, which closely mimics human populations in developing countries. Malnourished mice were found to have higher levels of insulin and lower levels of vitamin B12 and folate compared to normal mice. The study's findings indicate that malnourished mice exhibit metabolic abnormalities related to epigenetic changes, which do not reverse even after two subsequent generations have unlimited access to normal food.

Dr. Sanjeev Galande, Dean of the School of Natural Sciences at Shiv Nadar University, one of the study's authors, explained that the paradox of increased obesity and diabetes risk due to malnutrition in India is often explained through the theory of the "double burden of malnutrition." Malnutrition in early life primes the body to conserve energy, store fat less efficiently, and develop less muscle mass, leading to long-term metabolic changes. When these individuals later develop calorie-dense diets and sedentary lifestyles, a trend that is now increasing in India, they are at significantly increased risk for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases.