South Asian countries including Bangladesh have been facing a triple burden of malnutrition--undernutrition, anaemia, and rising overweight or obesity--that is undermining the health and future of millions of children.
While progress has been made in tackling stunting, wasting, and anaemia, the growing threat of obesity linked to unhealthy food environments, especially in schools, requires urgent government intervention, according to a new report of the UNICEF.
UNICEF warns that unless urgent action is taken, the futures of millions of children will be at risk.
It stated that investing in child nutrition is not just a health imperative but also an economic one, as malnutrition leads to trillions of dollars in lost opportunities for the region. By ensuring every child's right to nutritious food, South Asian nations can build a healthier, stronger, and more prosperous future.
The UNICEF's new report 'Feeding Profit: How Food Environments are Failing Children in South Asia' finds that the number of children aged 5-19 living with overweight has increased fivefold to 70 million in South Asia since 2000.
In the case of Bangladesh, Unhealthy foods-packaged snacks and fast food-are more prevalent in schools than healthier alternatives like fresh fruits, vegetables, or cooked meals. Due to that currently, 8 percent of children live with overweight, but experts warn that the widespread availability of junk food in schools poses a serious future risk.
The report stated that while nearly 48 per cent of the school-going adolescents in the South Asia region reported that their schools offer food services, such as canteens or tuck shops, the quality of the food available is a major concern. Unhealthy options-including packaged snacks (61 per cent), fast foods (55 per cent), and sugar-sweetened beverages (55 per cent)-were reported as disturbingly common.
It stated that the childhood obesity has more than doubled in the same period. Every country in South Asia is affected, making this a regional public health concern.
South Asia continues to bear the largest burden of undernutrition globally: 1 in 3 children under five are stunted; 1 in 10 children under five suffer from wasting; and 1 in 4 children born with low birth weight.
The region also carries the highest global burden of anaemia, affecting almost half of women and adolescent girls, it added.
Marketing and visibility of unhealthy food products are common in this region. Nearly 50 per cent of adolescents saw food brands/logos in schools while more than 50 percent reported that advertising influenced their food choices.
UNICEF emphasizes that "No company should profit at the cost of children's health" and urges governments across South Asia to take urgent action.
