News Center- At least 77 million, or one in three, children in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have some form of malnutrition, according to the Regional Nutrition Strategic Direction for MENA launched by UNICEF in Amman on Monday.

The new analysis finds a staggering 55 million children in the region are overweight or obese, with these forms of malnutrition on the rise among school-aged children in all 20 countries in the region. One in three school-aged children and adolescents are living with overweight and obesity, UNICEF said.

In the past two decades, progress has been made to reduce the regional prevalence of stunting, or low height for age, in the past two decades, “Still, the problem persists at scale, affecting 10 million children under 5 years of age in the region.”

“The Middle East and North Africa region is confronting an increasingly complex triple burden of malnutrition that is undermining the growth, development and future potential of its children,” said Africa Adele Khodr, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North. “Just one-third of young children are receiving the nutritious foods they need to grow, develop and thrive. This is a shocking statistic in 2024 and risks becoming even worse as conflicts, crises and other challenges in our region persist.”

In 17 countries in the region, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adult women exceeds 60 per cent, significantly higher than the global average of 45 per cent, according to UNICEF.

UNICEF called on governments to prioritize nutrition in their national development plans, policies, and budgets.