WHO: Childhood obesity at alarming rates globally

The World Health Organization is warning that childhood obesity has reached an alarming rate worldwide.

A report commissioned by the WHO indicates that childhood obesity has become "exploding nightmare" in third-world countries.

In Africa, the number of obese children has almost doubled since 1990.

Biological factors, inadequate access to healthy foods and a decline in physical activity in schools are among the contributors of a deteriorating epidemic.

The report underscores that governments and global public health bodies can play a major part in reversing the scourge.