Child obesity at alarming levels in Vietnam

Last year saw the rate reach 26.8% in urban areas, 18.3% in rural districts, and 6.9% in mountainous regions. Specifically, 19 out of every 100 children aged between 5 and 19 were classified as overweight or obese, a sharp increase compared to 8.5 out of every 100 children recorded in 2010.

The research, the largest of its kind, was conducted over 22,400 households from 25 various provinces and cities across the country. Its aims is to collect indicators of anthropology, micronutrients, and individual diets, as well as gaining information on food security and food hygiene.

Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen warned the high rates could lead to an uncontrolled increase in dietary-related non-communicable diseases.

According to the health official, Vietnam recorded many important results in terms of its national strategy on nutrition during the 2011 - 2020 period. However, it has yet to improve micronutrient deficiencies or overweight and obesity rates among adults.

Rana Flowers, a representative of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in Vietnam, also pointed out Vietnam is facing an increasing burden caused by overweight and obesity levels.

She said meat consumption is increasing rapidly, climbing from 84 grams per person per day in 2010 to 136.4 grams in 2020, and even to 155.3 grams in urban areas.

Flowers also warned of an increase in the consumption of soft drinks and fast food in schools in cities.

Meanwhile, the rate of underweight and stunted growth among Vietnamese children remains at a high level.

Deputy Minister Tuyen said school-aged children are currently facing a double burden caused by stunting and obesity, which will adversely affect their health, physical, and intellectual development in particular, and the growth of Vietnamese people in general.

The MoH has set a target of controlling obesity and overweight rates among children under the age of five at 5% in rural areas and 10% in urban areas, said Tuyen.