In Italy, 19% of 8-9 year old boys and girls are overweight and 9.8% are obese, including girls and boys with severe obesity who represent 2.6%. These are the data relating to 2023 processed by ‘Okkio alla Salute’, the national surveillance system coordinated by the National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (Cnapps) of the ISS which is part of the initiative of the European Region of the WHO “Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative-COSI”, announced today during a conference at the headquarters of the Higher Institute of Health (ISS).
Overweight children have decreased
From the first data collection, which took place in 2008-2009 to today, “overweight shows a significant decreasing trend while obesity, after an initial phase of initial decrease, has tended to be stable for a few years, with a slight increase in 2023 – underlines the ISS – As in previous years, ISS surveillance involved all the Regions and Autonomous Provinces and enrolled over 50 thousand girls and as many families.
Incorrect eating habits
Parents reported that almost 2 out of 5 boys and girls don’t have an adequate breakfast in the morning, more than half consume a large mid-morning snack, 1 in 4 drinks sugary/carbonated drinks daily and consumes fruit and vegetables less than once a day”.
“37% of girls and boys consume legumes less than once a week and more than half of them eat sweet snacks more than 3 days a week. The data on physical activity highlights that one in 5 children did not do physical activity the day before the interview, more than 70% do not go to school on foot or by bicycle and almost half spend more than 2 hours a day in front of the TV, tablet or mobile phone – highlights the report – The indicators on eating habits, as well as those on physical activity, have only changed slightly compared to the previous data collection (2019).
Fatter in the South
A North-South geographical gradient remains stable with higher prevalences of excess weight in girls and boys resident in southern Italy. The socioeconomic conditions of families also have an impact on excess weight and lifestyle in general.”
“The data, while noting a decrease in excess child weight from 2008 to today, still highlights high prevalences of excess weight and inappropriate lifestyles in girls and boys – observes Giovanni Capelli, Director of Cnapss. This can have implications for their health. School, family, health professionals and society as a whole can play an important role in the prevention and treatment of obesity and in the promotion of healthy lifestyles. It is a priority to address unjustifiable inequalities due to geographical and socioeconomic factors.”
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