In recent decades, the prevalence of obesity in children has increased dramatically. This worldwide epidemic has important consequences, including psychiatric, psychological and psychosocial disorders in childhood and increased risk of developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) later in life. Treatment of obesity is difficult and children with excess weight are likely to become adults with obesity. These trends have led member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) to endorse a target of no increase in obesity in childhood by 2025. Estimates of overweight in children aged under 5 years are available jointly from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), WHO and the World Bank. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) has published country-level estimates of obesity in children aged 2–4 years. For children aged 5–19 years, obesity estimates are available from the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration. The global prevalence of overweight in children aged 5 years or under has increased modestly, but with heterogeneous trends in low and middle-income regions, while the prevalence of obesity in children aged 2–4 years has increased moderately. In 1975, obesity in children aged 5–19 years was relatively rare, but was much more common in 2016. It is recognised that the key drivers of this epidemic form an obesogenic environment, which includes changing food systems and reduced physical activity. Although cost-effective interventions such as WHO ‘best buys’ have been identified, political will and implementation have so far been limited. There is therefore a need to implement effective programmes and policies in multiple sectors to address overnutrition, undernutrition, mobility and physical activity. To be successful, the obesity epidemic must be a political priority, with these issues addressed both locally and globally. Work by governments, civil society, private corporations and other key stakeholders must be coordinated.

中文翻译：

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儿童肥胖的流行病学负担：需要紧急行动的全球流行病

近几十年来，儿童肥胖症的患病率急剧上升。这种全球性流行病具有重要的后果，包括儿童时期的精神病，心理疾病和社会心理疾病，以及在以后的生活中罹患非传染性疾病（NCD）的风险增加。肥胖症的治疗很困难，体重过重的儿童有可能成为肥胖症的成年人。这些趋势导致世界卫生组织（WHO）成员国批准了到2025年儿童肥胖率不会增加的目标。5岁以下儿童的超重估计值可以从联合国儿童基金会（UNICEF）联合获得，世卫组织和世界银行。卫生计量与评估研究所（IHME）已发布国家级2至4岁儿童肥胖的评估。对于5-19岁的儿童，肥胖估计数可从NCD危险因素合作组织获得。5岁或以下儿童的全球超重患病率已适度增加，但在中低收入地区却有不同的趋势，而2至4岁儿童的肥胖症患病率则有中等程度的增长。1975年，5-19岁儿童的肥胖症相对少见，但在2016年更为普遍。人们认识到，这一流行病的主要驱动因素形成了致肥胖环境，其中包括食物系统的改变和体育活动的减少。尽管已确定了具有成本效益的干预措施，例如世卫组织的“最合算措施”，但迄今为止，政治意愿和实施都受到限制。因此，有必要在多个部门实施有效的计划和政策，以解决营养过剩，营养不足，流动性和体育活动。为了取得成功，肥胖流行必须成为政治优先事项，这些问题在本地和全球都得到解决。政府，民间社会，私营公司和其他主要利益相关者的工作必须得到协调。