Rate of overweight in children under 5 years more than 20 per cent in some European countries

Sources: World Health Statistics 2009 and World Health Organization

In 2007, an estimated 22 million children under the age of 5 were overweight throughout the world. More than 75 per cent of overweight and obese children live in low- and middle-income countries.

The percentage of children aged under 5 years who were overweight in the period 2000 to 2007 was more than 20 per cent for some European countries (Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania). The lowest rates of overweight (<1%) were seen for Nepal and Bangladesh. The figure below shows the per cent of overweight children for selected countries.

Children who are overweight are liable to remain overweight as adults or to become obese. There is convincing evidence that being overweight or obese as an adult increases the risk of cancers of the bowel, oesophagus, pancreas, kidney, endometrium and breast (post menopause) [WCRF/AICR Expert Report].