Work

Transforming Food Systems for the Prevention of Childhood Overweight and Obesity in the Gulf Region

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background/Objectives: The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity is increasing rapidly across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), threatening public health and economic sustainability. Drivers include increased availability and consumption of ultra-processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages, physical inactivity, and pervasive marketing of unhealthy foods. This study used a secondary, framework-guided narrative synthesis of two regional reports to map child-relevant policy coverage, examine reported implementation barriers, and identify priorities for action across the six GCC countries. Methods: We used two comprehensive regional reports by the Gulf Center for Disease Prevention and Control (Gulf CDC), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and World Health Organization. The analysis synthesizes 103 policy-related documents and 32 key-informant interviews across six Gulf countries. Results: Our findings reveal a policy environment with significant gaps despite growing political commitment and a wide range of national strategies: three countries have adopted front-of-pack nutrition labeling, on a voluntary basis; marketing restrictions remain partially implemented, particularly on digital platforms. Stakeholders highlighted fragmented governance and limited accountability. This directly affects service delivery. While all countries have school-based interventions and infant and young child feeding strategies, their impact is weakened by inconsistent funding and implementation. Conclusions: Using UNICEF’s Transforming Children’s Food Systems approach, we propose a GCC-wide roadmap in three action areas: (1) improving children’s foods; (2) improving children’s food environments; and (3) improving children’s food practices. This roadmap offers a strategic path for the GCC to accelerate action towards protecting the health and well-being of all children in the Gulf and offering valuable lessons for global policy and practice.

Source: Nutrients

DOI: 10.3390/nu18203435