The UK has one of the worst obesity rates in Europe, a global report has warned, as it predicts 220 million children globally will be obese by 2040 if no drastic action is taken.
About 3.8 million children between the ages of 5 and 19 years in the UK have a high BMI, meaning they are either overweight or obese – that’s around twice as high than the number of children who are overweight or obese in France and Italy.
In 2025, about 180 million children worldwide were obese, but according to figures from the World Obesity Federation’s 2026 there will be about 228 million children aged 5 to 19 living with obesity in about 14 years.
Rates of obesity have risen to the point that globally, the number of children living with obesity is set to exceed those who are underweight which is predicted to be 142 million by 2040.
It could have catastrophic consequences with the report predicting at least 120 million school-age children to have early signs of chronic disease caused by having a high body mass index (BMI).
Someone is classed as obese if their BMI is over 30 and overweight if it is over 25. About 27 million children ages 5 to 19 in the US have a high BMI, in China there are 62 million and India 41 million.
In the UK about 11.4 per cent of children aged 5 to 19 years are obese and 18.9 per cent are overweight. By 2040 12.4 per cent are set to be obese and 17.3 per cent of children are predicted be overweight.
Childhood obesity causes severe and lasting health issues, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, and joint pain.
It’s estimated that by 2040 about 370,000 children are expected to have signs of cardiovascular disease in the UK. More than 270,000 are predicted to show signs of hypertension and 114,000 are expected to have high blood sugar.
“The increases are fastest in low- and middle-income countries, where most of the world’s children live. Childhood obesity is no longer confined to high-income settings; it is a global social and economic development challenge. Without urgent action, rising obesity rates will place growing strain on health systems, communities and future generations,” the report states.
“Obesity in childhood frequently persists into adulthood, increasing the risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. Early signs of these chronic diseases are already appearing in children today. Beyond physical health, childhood and adolescent obesity also carries significant psychosocial consequences,” it added.
In the UK School-age children 6-10 years drink between 150 to 200 ml of sugary drinks a day on average and 80 per cent of children aged 11 to 17 years fail to meet recommended levels of exercise.
To prevent huge increases in children living with obesity the report calls for sugar taxes, limits on junk food and junk food advertising to help children lead more active lives.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Every child deserves the best possible start in life, which is why this government is taking decisive action to tackle childhood obesity.
“We are restricting junk food advertising on television before 9pm and at all times online – a move expected to remove up to 7.2 billion calories per year from children’s diets – while giving local authorities stronger powers to stop fast food shops opening near schools.
“Through our 10 Year Health Plan, we’re shifting the focus from sickness to prevention to create a healthier nation.”
