Childhood Obesity Overtakes Undernutrition as Top Health Threat in Developing Countries

Childhood obesity is rapidly overtaking undernutrition as a primary health threat in developing countries, with Indonesia now the most populous nation after China and the US where obesity rates among school-aged children exceed undernutrition rates, according to a WHO-backed study published in Nature. The shift is driven by cheap processed foods, sedentary lifestyles, and rapid "nutrition transition" in middle-income countries, with obesity prevalence rising fastest in Peru, Tonga, and Samoa. In Indonesia, obesity now affects 20% of 60 million school-aged children, while diabetes rates have more than doubled since 2011. Health experts warn the obesity epidemic could undermine decades of health gains, with global costs projected to reach $3 trillion by 2030. Indonesia's government has introduced food labelling and free school meals, but critics say awareness remains low and industry regulations are weak.