(Brazil) "34% of Brazilian children obese or overweight in 2020"; projections 50% by 2035
- Aug 24, 2025
- 4 min read
Aug 13, 2025, Oneill.law: How Public Policies and Public Authorities Shape Child Nutrition in Brazil: School As a Tool for Building Autonomy
Obesity is a global public health problem, with significant implications for chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over the past three decades, global obesity rates have risen sharply from 2% to 8% among children (aged 5–19) and from 7% to 16% among adults (18 years old or older).
In Brazil, from 2006 to 2019, the obesity rate nearly doubled from 11.8% to 20.3%. Based on the 2024 World Obesity Atlas, 34% of Brazilian children were obese or overweight in 2020, and, alarmingly, projections indicate that, by 2035, 50% of Brazilian children may be obese or overweight. Additionally, the 2025 World Obesity Atlas demonstrated that 68% of the Brazilian population is overweight and, among those, 31% are obese. . . .
In this sense, preventing obesity deeply intersects with education. As environments where children spend a significant portion of their time, schools play a pivotal role in shaping these habits. Autonomy regarding nutrition depends, in part, on developing healthy food habits from childhood. As such, this Expert Column examines public policies to address childhood obesity and nutritional autonomy building in Brazil, focusing on schools as key arenas for intervention.
The Brazilian legal and constitutional framework not only allows but also requires State action on this matter. Under Brazil’s Constitution, health, education, and child protection are social rights, and children’s health and nutrition are absolute priorities. Internationally, Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child recognizes every child’s right to the highest attainable standard of health and calls on States to adopt concrete actions to reduce child mortality, combat malnutrition, and ensure access to adequate food, clean water, and health education.
Brazil has 79,286 basic education schools, with 59.6% in the public municipal network and 23.7% in the private sector. For public basic education, Law No. 11.947/2009 specifically addresses school feeding and nutrition by creating the National School Feeding Program (in Portuguese, PNAE). PNAE aims to provide federal funds for proper nutrition during the school year in public schools, supporting students’ health, learning, and healthy eating habits. However, this Expert Column will focus on private schools, which are not covered by the PNAE and often lack specific nutrition-related initiatives.
Challenges in Establishing Healthy Habits in Private Schools
In private schools, meals usually come from two main sources: food brought from home and items purchased at canteens, which often offer unhealthy food options. Even though healthy items may be available, it is up to the student to choose between a balanced meal or a more attractive, possibly ultra-processed, option that is high in sugar and fats. . . .
While the family also plays a fundamental role in shaping children’s eating habits, several structural and social barriers — such as limited time available due to the caregivers’ work and socioeconomic status — often prevent the consistent implementation of healthy practices at home. In these cases, schools are even more vital in promoting and reinforcing the values of health and nutrition.
Public policies can help align individual behavior with major public health goals. Public policies attempt to make people perform actions they would not otherwise undertake. In the context of school nutrition, extensive research highlights complementary approaches that have proven effective. This Expert Column will focus on how three of these approaches can enhance nutrition in private schools:
1. Authority-based policies. . .
2. Capacity-building policies. . .
3. Nudges. . .
Concrete Initiatives in Brazilian Private Schools
Brazil has been implementing legal measures across different levels of government (municipal, regional, and federal) to restrict the availability and promotion of unhealthy foods in schools, including private ones. Some examples include:
1. Marketing prohibition within schools’ environments
A regional law, No. 14.045/2018, bans marketing communication within basic education institutions in the State of Bahia. In 2021, the law faced challenges before the Supreme Federal Court (STF), with the Court ultimately upholding the law — a significant step in emphasizing the legitimacy of protecting children from persuasive advertising in school environments.
2. Regulation of food sales in schools’ canteens
The municipal law, No. 7.987/2023,prohibits the sale and distribution of ultra-processed foods and beverages in both public and private preschools and elementary schools as part of a broader effort to fight childhood obesity in the city of Rio de Janeiro. It includes a system of penalties for non-compliance, including a daily fine of R$1,500 for private schools until the issue is resolved.
3. National proposal to regulate the sale and marketing of ultra-processed products in schools
Currently pending before the Senate, the federal bill, No. 4.501/2020, requires canteens to offer at least three healthy snack options daily — focusing on health benefits, local food traditions, and sustainability. Moreover, this bill explicitly bans fried preparations.
Conclusion
Obesity is a public health issue that requires preventive measures focused on fostering healthy habits from a young age. Autonomous and informed dietary choices are fundamental ways to reduce prolonged exposure to unhealthy foods during childhood and to ensure access to accurate nutritional information. Moreover, schools play a central role in children’s daily lives, making them an environment that offers a strategic and effective setting for Brazil to implement public policies that promote health and long-term well-being. . . .
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