A new global report released to mark World Obesity Day indicates that childhood overweight and obesity have reached concerning levels across the world. According to the World Obesity Atlas 2026, approximately 20.7% of children and adolescents aged between five and nineteen are currently living with excess body weight. This represents around 419 million young people worldwide, or roughly one in five in this age group.
The analysis, published by the World Obesity Federation, warns that the number of affected children is expected to continue increasing in the coming decades. Projections suggest that by 2040, the global total could reach 507 million children and adolescents living with overweight or obesity if effective prevention measures are not implemented.
Health experts emphasise that excess body weight in childhood is associated with a range of medical complications commonly observed in adults. These include hypertension and cardiovascular disease, conditions that are increasingly being detected earlier in life. The federation estimates that by 2040 nearly 57.6 million children worldwide may present early indicators of cardiovascular disease, while 43.2 million could develop hypertension linked to weight-related risk factors.
Public health researchers have repeatedly highlighted that childhood obesity is a complex condition influenced by multiple factors, including dietary patterns, physical activity and social determinants of health. Studies published in medical journals such as The Lancet and The British Medical Journal have associated the rise in childhood obesity with the growing consumption of highly processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages, as well as reduced levels of physical activity.
The report also notes that many countries have yet to implement comprehensive public health policies capable of addressing the problem effectively. Recommended strategies include taxation on sugary drinks, restrictions on marketing aimed at children—particularly through digital platforms—promotion of physical activity, protection of breastfeeding and improvements in school nutrition standards. Integrating prevention and treatment into primary healthcare systems is also considered essential for long-term control of the epidemic.
In Brazil, the situation reflects the global trend. Data cited in the report indicate that 16.5 million children and adolescents aged between five and nineteen are currently living with overweight or obesity in the country. Among younger children aged five to nine, around 6.6 million are affected, while the number rises to 9.9 million among those aged ten to nineteen.
The health consequences associated with elevated body mass index (BMI) are already visible among Brazilian children. In 2025, an estimated 1.4 million young people in Brazil were diagnosed with hypertension linked to BMI, while 572,000 cases of hyperglycaemia, 1.8 million cases of high triglycerides, and four million cases of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease were also attributed to excess body weight.
Projections for Brazil suggest these health impacts may intensify over the coming years. By 2040, more than 1.6 million children and adolescents could be diagnosed with hypertension related to BMI, alongside significant increases in metabolic disorders such as hyperglycaemia, elevated triglycerides and fatty liver disease.
Specialists stress that tackling childhood obesity requires a coordinated response from governments, healthcare systems and society as a whole. Researchers and medical organisations increasingly argue that obesity should not be viewed solely as an individual issue, but rather as a broader public health and socio-economic challenge influenced by food systems, urban environments and health policies.
As the global population continues to grow, public health authorities warn that addressing childhood obesity will be essential to preventing future increases in chronic diseases and reducing the long-term burden on healthcare systems worldwide.