In Bogor, a city just south of Jakarta, the story of 12‑year‑old Intan Permatasari puts a human face on a growing global health crisis. Intan, who left school after years of bullying for her weight, exemplifies the “double burden” of rising childhood obesity alongside persistent undernutrition in developing nations.
Study shows alarming trends
More than 1,000 scientists tracking children aged 5‑19 in 200 countries released new findings in Nature. The data, backed by the World Health Organization, reveal that obesity rates are climbing fastest in low‑income regions, outpacing the slower growth or plateau seen in wealthier nations.
Between 2023‑2024, obesity among boys rose most sharply in Peru, reaching 19 % from under 8 % in 2010. For girls, the steepest increases occurred in Tonga and Samoa. In Indonesia, the prevalence among both boys and girls rose by over half a percentage point in 2024 – the largest absolute jump yet recorded.
Local impact and personal struggle
Intan’s family lives in a cramped two‑bedroom home where space is shared among a motorbike, shoes and pet birds. She often turned to cheap, calorie‑dense foods like fried soybean cake and sugary snacks, a pattern echoed across many low‑income households.
After years of treatment by local health professionals, a pediatrician at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo National Hospital began using the weight‑loss drug Ozempic for Intan, a therapy that would otherwise be unaffordable for most families.
Health consequences and policy response
Experts warn that unchecked obesity will bring a “tsunami of non‑communicable disease,” eroding gains made against infectious illnesses. The World Health Organization estimates global costs of overweight and obesity could reach $3 trillion by 2030, while Indonesia’s own burden may climb from $17.5 billion in 2019 to nearly $47 billion in 2030.
Indonesia’s health minister acknowledges the rise but still ranks obesity lower than other concerns, noting it is traditionally seen as a problem of richer nations. Nonetheless, the ministry has launched free health‑screening programmes for children under six and plans to expand them nationwide.
What families can do
Parents and community leaders are urged to increase nutrition education, limit access to cheap processed foods, and promote active lifestyles. Early detection and intervention remain critical, as many obese children only seek care when severe health issues arise.
Intan’s story underscores the urgent need for coordinated action—both at home and from policymakers—to protect the next generation from the long‑term harms of childhood obesity.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
