The UN's surprising report reveals: Children in Gaza suffer from obesity

A new UNICEF report, published in July 2026, presents complex nutritional data from the Gaza Strip. Contrary to the official famine declaration from a year ago, the report reveals an exceptionally low rate of acute malnutrition among children (0.5%), alongside findings of obesity. The gap between the reports sparks debate over measurement methods and the original declaration.

A new UNICEF report, presented on July 22, 2026, reveals a complex picture of the nutritional situation in the Gaza Strip, starkly different from the official famine declaration a year ago. The report, titled "Results of the Gaza Nutrition Survey," states that the rate of "wasting" (acute malnutrition) is low across all areas, standing at only 0.5% – one of the lowest rates in the region. This contrasts with the catastrophic famine declaration in August 2025. The report also shows that only about 12% of children suffer from stunting, less than half the regional average. However, the report points to an opposite phenomenon: obesity among children. The gap between the reports stems from different measurement methods: the new report was based on the weight-for-height index, considered more accurate, while the previous declaration was based on mid-upper arm circumference measurement, a method that tends to inflate results. The original documents briefly disappeared from the network, adding to the tension around the issue. The report sparks a sharp debate over whether the famine declaration was correct or a statistical failure.