Almost 40% of the Russian population is overweight, and the number of obese children is increasing. The Russian Minister of Health, Mikhail Murashko, has expressed concern about this growing trend, highlighting the link between poor nutrition, sedentary lifestyles, and a lack of interest in physical activity among children.

Minister Murashko reported that nearly 480,000 schoolchildren in Russia are currently diagnosed with obesity.

Data from 2024 reveals that 1.67% of children aged 7-10 years are obese. This percentage increases to 2.79% among schoolchildren aged 11-14 years, and further to 2.82% among adolescents aged 15-17 years.

Earlier in June, Minister Murashko noted that the incidence of obesity among children under 15 years of age had increased by over a third (36.1%) between 2018 and 2024. He emphasized that obesity can lead to hormonal and metabolic disorders, as well as oncological diseases.

The World Health Organization (WHO) uses Body Mass Index (BMI) to classify obesity, advising individuals with a BMI greater than 30 to seek medical advice.