Every fifth child in Ukraine is overweight: results of the first national study of childhood obesity
On 4 February, Kyiv hosted a presentation of the results of the first Ukrainian study of the prevalence of overweight and obesity among primary school children, conducted as part of the WHO European Initiative (COSI).
According to the study, 22.96% of children aged 6-8 are overweight, of whom 9.13% have obesity and 2.63% — severe obesity. At the same time, boys are more prone to weight problems: their overweight rate reaches 25.24% compared to 20.72% for girls.
“This is the first time that a study on childhood obesity has been conducted in Ukraine as part of the WHO COSI European Initiative. The results reflect not only statistical data on overweight in children, but also provide an opportunity to gather more information about the causes. In particular, about children's eating habits, physical activity, behavioural habits in the family, and the school environment. This makes it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of school nutrition reform, adjust approaches to preventing non-communicable diseases from an early age, and ultimately create a safe educational environment.”
The main risk factors for obesity are unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. The study found that only about half of Ukrainian children eat in line with the Ministry of Health's recommended daily intake of fruit and vegetables. Only 55.3% of children eat fresh fruit daily, and 41.4% eat vegetables. Instead, the survey of parents showed that children consume too much sugar: 20.3% of children consume sugar-containing drinks daily, and 17.8% of children consume sweet snacks (cookies, cakes, desserts).
The study also showed that children are not physically active enough: a third of children either do not exercise or spend less than an hour a week doing high-intensity physical activity. At the same time, 54.4% of students spend more than two hours on electronic devices on weekdays, rising to 83.4% on weekends.
“The Public Health Centre coordinated the first Ukrainian study of the prevalence of overweight in children (COSI), which is an important tool for health protection measures. This applies to both healthy eating and physical activity of children: more than 83% of schoolchildren spend more than 2 hours on gadgets on weekends, and less than half of children eat vegetables every day. These are the problems that need to be addressed to preserve the health of Ukrainian children.”
In general, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children in Ukraine is comparable to that of the countries that participated in the study: on average, 25% of children are overweight, including obese. Breastfeeding is an important factor that reduces the likelihood of a child becoming overweight. Mother's milk contains an optimal balance of nutrients, which affects appetite regulation and helps reduce the risk of developing metabolic disorders such as obesity.
The study found that only 26% of children were exclusively breastfed in the first six months of life, as recommended by the WHO. Every sixth child was breastfed for less than a month, and every eleventh child received no breast milk.
A healthy diet, including a daily breakfast, also helps prevent being overweight. 73% of Ukrainian children (boys more often than girls) eat breakfast daily demonstrating the importance and need to provide schoolchildren with hot breakfasts.
“Ensuring a balanced diet for children, overweight, and obesity are significant public health challenges. In Ukraine, in 2023-2024, about 21% of children aged 7 were overweight or obese, more than 40% of children consumed sugary snacks daily, and one in five children drank sweetened soft drinks. The World Health Organization supports countries in studying and addressing these issues through initiatives such as the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI). This programme is currently playing a key role in monitoring the prevalence of obesity and risk factors among children and providing governments with the necessary data to implement effective interventions. For Ukraine, joining this initiative is an important step towards preserving the health of its youngest citizens.”
“The Swiss government has been systematically supporting healthcare programmes in Ukraine, including the prevention of non-communicable diseases, for many years. The consistency of our initiatives lies in their duration. Each of the projects supported by the Swiss government lasts for 10 years. And this long-term support and commitment is necessary to see changes. Especially those behavioural changes that take much longer to see and feel the desired result. We are truly working today for our tomorrow.”
To address the problem, a comprehensive approach needs to be implemented, including improving access to healthy food in schools, increasing children's physical activity, limiting the time spent using electronic devices, and educating parents and children.
According to the survey, almost all schools (93%) have canteens and all the conditions to ensure children's physical activity: 96.2% have outdoor playgrounds; 94.1% have indoor gyms/sports halls; 97.7% are provided with physical education and sports equipment that meets the age-specific needs of students.
“Investing in health prevention is not only about caring, but also about economic benefits: every dollar invested brings a $14 return through reduced rates of chronic disease. Being overweight is a key risk factor, and without changes, up to 30% of children could face serious health problems in 20 years. That's why in the "Act for Health" project we work with communities, schools, and the Public Health Centre, change school meals together with Yevhen Klopotenko and implement comprehensive educational programmes to help children, parents, and teachers develop healthy habits today.”
The study was conducted among students in grades 1-2, their parents, and representatives of educational institutions in all regions of Ukraine, except for the occupied territories and active hostilities, from November 2023 to February 2014. 3,557 children and 3,601 parents were interviewed in 187 schools in 20 regions of Ukraine.
The study was commissioned by the Ministry of Health, coordinated by the Public Health Center, and implemented by the Ukrainian Institute for Social Research named after Olexander Yaremenko with financial support from Switzerland through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and GFA Consulting Group GmbH within the framework of the Ukrainian-Swiss project "Act for Health", with technical support from the WHO Office in Ukraine and the WHO European Office.