Italy
- Overview
- Obesity prevalence
- Trends over time
- Contextual factors
Loading data – please wait …
National obesity risk *6/10This is a composite ‘obesity risk’ score (out of 10, the highest risk) based on obesity prevalence, rate of increase, likelihood of meeting the 2025 target, treatment indicator and childhood stunting levels.Childhood obesity risk *8/11This is a ‘risk score’ for each country’s likelihood of having or acquiring a major childhood obesity problem during the 2020s, taking account of current prevalence levels and risk for future obesity (based on stunting among infants, maternal obesity, maternal smoking, and breastfeeding rates).
Obesity prevalence
Trends over time
Download report card
The report card collates all the most-recent graphics for this country. If you would like to produce a custom report based on selected graphics, just tap the Add to custom PDF button below the graphics you would like to use.Population breakdowns
Drivers
Insufficient activity
Sugar consumption
Soft drink consumption
Confectionery consumption
Sweet/savoury snack consumption
Fruit consumption
Vegetable consumption
Processed meat consumption
Grains consumption
Depression
Anxiety
Roots of obesity »
Like all chronic diseases, the root causes/drivers of obesity are complex. Select here to view 'other' root causes/drivers.Comorbidities
Economic impact
Policies
Contextual factors
Obesity prevalence
Adults, 2020-2021
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 18-69 |
| Sample size: | 38126 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | PASSI 2020-2021. Available at https://www.epicentro.iss.it/passi/dati/sovrappeso?tab-container-1=tab1 (last accessed on 22.03.23) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2019
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 18+ |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Eurostat 2019. Data available at https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=hlth_ehis_bm1i&lang=en (last accessed 09.08.21) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2017-2020
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 18-69 |
| Sample size: | 110742 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | PASSI 2017-20. Available at https://www.epicentro.iss.it/passi/dati/sovrappeso (last accessed 17.11.21) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2016-2019
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 18-69 |
| Sample size: | 129423 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | PASSI 2016-19. Available at https://www.epicentro.iss.it/passi/dati/sovrappeso?tab-container-1=tab1 (last accessed on 25.09.20) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2014
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 18+ |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Eurostat database http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=hlth_ehis_bm1i&lang=en (last accessed 25.08.20) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2008-2012
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 35-79 |
| Sample size: | 8710 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | The Cardiovascular Epidemiological Observatory (OEC) Survey. http://www.cuore.iss.it/fattori/progetto.asp |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2000-2003
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 15+ |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Eurostat Yearbook 2006/07. A goldmine of statistical information. Available at https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/5059290/1-20022007-BP-EN.PDF.pdf/edab8c31-b9f3-4c8e-b4db-4137bd045efa?t=1414683510000 (last accessed 04.11.21) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 1998
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 35-74 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | The data is understood to be National WHO Infobase. Ref:Institito Svperiore Di Sanita. Osservatorio epidemiologico cardiovascolare, Personal communication: Andrea Gaggioli and Simona Giampaoli. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Children, 2019
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 8-9 |
| Sample size: | 53273 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | OKkio alla SALUTE 2019. https://www.epicentro.iss.it/okkioallasalute/indagine-2019-dati (Last accessed 10.12.2020) |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
Children, 2018-2020
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 8 |
| Sample size: | 29621 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Report on the fifth round of data collection, 2018–2020: WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI). Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2022. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. |
| Cutoffs: | WHO 2007 |
Children, 2015-2017
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 8 |
| Sample size: | 29633 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI): report on the fourth round of data collection, 2015–2017. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2021. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. |
| Cutoffs: | WHO 2007 |
Children, 2012
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 8-9 |
| Sample size: | 46,483 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | COSI 2012. https://www.epicentro.iss.it/okkioallasalute/IndagineNazionale2012 (Last accessed 10.12.2020) |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
Children, 2012-2013
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 8 |
| Sample size: | 29002 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe. (2018). WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative: overweight and obesity among 6–9-year-old children: report of the third round of data collection 2012–2013. World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/346110 |
| Cutoffs: | WHO 2007 |
Children, 2009-2010
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 8 |
| Sample size: | 26009 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Wijnhoven, T.M., van Raaij, J.M., Spinelli, A. et al. WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative: body mass index and level of overweight among 6–9-year-old children from school year 2007/2008 to school year 2009/2010. BMC Public Health 14, 806 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-821 |
| Cutoffs: | WHO 2007 |
Children, 2007-2008
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 8 |
| Sample size: | 5144 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Wijnhoven, T. M. A., van Raaij, J. M. A., Spinelli, A., Rito, A. I., Hovengen, R., Kunesova, M., Starc, G., Rutter, H., Sjöberg, A., Petrauskiene, A., O'Dwyer, U., Petrova, S., Farrugia Sant'Angelo, V., Wauters, M., Yngve, A., Rubana, I.-M. and Breda, J. (2012), WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative 2008: weight, height and body mass index in 6–9-year-old children. Pediatric Obesity. doi: 10.1111/j.2047-6310.2012.00090.x |
| Notes: | NB. Combined child data estimated. These estimates were calculated by weighting male and female survey results. Weighting based on World Bank Population % total female 2019 (https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL.FE.ZS - accessed 21.10.20)' |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
Children, 2007-2013
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 8-9 |
| Sample size: | 95089 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Spinelli et al (2019). 'Childhood Severe Obesity in Europe', Obes Facts.12, pp. 244–258. (Data from COSI round 1-3) |
| Notes: | NOTE - this data is from COSI round I, II and III (2007 - 2013) |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
Children, 2007-2008
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 8 |
| Sample size: | 5144 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Wijnhoven, T.M.A., van Raaij, J.M.A., Spinelli, A., Rito, A.I., Hovengen, R., Kunesova, M., Starc, G., Rutter, H., Sjöberg, A., Petrauskiene, A., O'Dwyer, U., Petrova, S., Farrugia Sant'Angelo, V., Wauters, M., Yngve, A., Rubana, I.-M. and Breda, J. (2013), WHO-COSI 2008: weight, height and BMI. Pediatric Obesity, 8: 79-97. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2047-6310.2012.00090.x |
| Cutoffs: | WHO 2007 |
Children, 2001-2002
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 8-9 |
| Sample size: | 3076 |
| Area covered: | Regional |
| References: | Giacchi M, Lazzeri G, Zani A, Guidoni G, Giallombardo D, Cocco S, Balocchini E, Carlori M, Turrini A, Censi L and Rossi S. (2005). Nutritional surveillance in Tuscany. Nutritional status among 8-9 year-old school children. Journal of Preventative Medicine and Hygiene, 46: 70 - 75 |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
Children, 1988-1989
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 10 |
| Sample size: | 1081 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Bellizzi MC, Horgan GW, Guillaume M, Dietz WH. Prevalence of childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity in Asian and European countries. In: Obesity in Childhood and Adolescence. Editors: Chunming Chen, William H. Dietz. Nestle Nutrition Workshop Series Pediatric Program. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2002. |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
% Adults living with overweight or obesity, 2000-2021
Women
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| References: | 2000: Eurostat Yearbook 2006/07. A goldmine of statistical information. Available at https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/5059290/1-20022007-BP-EN.PDF.pdf/edab8c31-b9f3-4c8e-b4db-4137bd045efa?t=1414683510000 (last accessed 04.11.21) 2014: Eurostat database http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=hlth_ehis_bm1i&lang=en (last accessed 25.08.20) 2019: Eurostat 2019. Data available at https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=hlth_ehis_bm1i&lang=en (last accessed 09.08.21) 2020: PASSI 2020-2021. Available at https://www.epicentro.iss.it/passi/dati/sovrappeso?tab-container-1=tab1 (last accessed on 22.03.23) |
| Different methodologies may have been used to collect this data and so data from different surveys may not be strictly comparable. Please check with original data sources for methodologies used. | |
Men
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| References: | 2000: Eurostat Yearbook 2006/07. A goldmine of statistical information. Available at https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/5059290/1-20022007-BP-EN.PDF.pdf/edab8c31-b9f3-4c8e-b4db-4137bd045efa?t=1414683510000 (last accessed 04.11.21) 2014: Eurostat database http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=hlth_ehis_bm1i&lang=en (last accessed 25.08.20) 2019: Eurostat 2019. Data available at https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=hlth_ehis_bm1i&lang=en (last accessed 09.08.21) 2020: PASSI 2020-2021. Available at https://www.epicentro.iss.it/passi/dati/sovrappeso?tab-container-1=tab1 (last accessed on 22.03.23) |
| Different methodologies may have been used to collect this data and so data from different surveys may not be strictly comparable. Please check with original data sources for methodologies used. | |
% Children living with obesity, 2007-2020
Boys
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 2007: Wijnhoven, T.M.A., van Raaij, J.M.A., Spinelli, A., Rito, A.I., Hovengen, R., Kunesova, M., Starc, G., Rutter, H., Sjöberg, A., Petrauskiene, A., O'Dwyer, U., Petrova, S., Farrugia Sant'Angelo, V., Wauters, M., Yngve, A., Rubana, I.-M. and Breda, J. (2013), WHO-COSI 2008: weight, height and BMI. Pediatric Obesity, 8: 79-97. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2047-6310.2012.00090.x 2009: Wijnhoven, T.M., van Raaij, J.M., Spinelli, A. et al. WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative: body mass index and level of overweight among 6–9-year-old children from school year 2007/2008 to school year 2009/2010. BMC Public Health 14, 806 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-821 2012: World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe. (2018). WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative: overweight and obesity among 6–9-year-old children: report of the third round of data collection 2012–2013. World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/346110 2015: WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI): report on the fourth round of data collection, 2015–2017. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2021. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. 2018: Report on the fifth round of data collection, 2018–2020: WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI). Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2022. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. |
| Definitions: | WHO 2007 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
| Different methodologies may have been used to collect this data and so data from different surveys may not be strictly comparable. Please check with original data sources for methodologies used. | |
Girls
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 2007: Wijnhoven, T.M.A., van Raaij, J.M.A., Spinelli, A., Rito, A.I., Hovengen, R., Kunesova, M., Starc, G., Rutter, H., Sjöberg, A., Petrauskiene, A., O'Dwyer, U., Petrova, S., Farrugia Sant'Angelo, V., Wauters, M., Yngve, A., Rubana, I.-M. and Breda, J. (2013), WHO-COSI 2008: weight, height and BMI. Pediatric Obesity, 8: 79-97. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2047-6310.2012.00090.x 2009: Wijnhoven, T.M., van Raaij, J.M., Spinelli, A. et al. WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative: body mass index and level of overweight among 6–9-year-old children from school year 2007/2008 to school year 2009/2010. BMC Public Health 14, 806 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-821 2012: World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe. (2018). WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative: overweight and obesity among 6–9-year-old children: report of the third round of data collection 2012–2013. World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/346110 2015: WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI): report on the fourth round of data collection, 2015–2017. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2021. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. 2018: Report on the fifth round of data collection, 2018–2020: WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI). Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2022. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. |
| Definitions: | WHO 2007 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
| Different methodologies may have been used to collect this data and so data from different surveys may not be strictly comparable. Please check with original data sources for methodologies used. | |
% Children living with obesity, 2007-2019
Boys and girls
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 2007: Wijnhoven, T. M. A., van Raaij, J. M. A., Spinelli, A., Rito, A. I., Hovengen, R., Kunesova, M., Starc, G., Rutter, H., Sjöberg, A., Petrauskiene, A., O'Dwyer, U., Petrova, S., Farrugia Sant'Angelo, V., Wauters, M., Yngve, A., Rubana, I.-M. and Breda, J. (2012), WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative 2008: weight, height and body mass index in 6–9-year-old children. Pediatric Obesity. doi: 10.1111/j.2047-6310.2012.00090.x 2012: COSI 2012. https://www.epicentro.iss.it/okkioallasalute/IndagineNazionale2012 (Last accessed 10.12.2020) 2019: OKkio alla SALUTE 2019. https://www.epicentro.iss.it/okkioallasalute/indagine-2019-dati (Last accessed 10.12.2020) |
| Definitions: | IOTF |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
| Different methodologies may have been used to collect this data and so data from different surveys may not be strictly comparable. Please check with original data sources for methodologies used. | |
% Adults living with obesity, 2000-2019
Men
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| References: | 2000: Eurostat Yearbook 2006/07. A goldmine of statistical information. Available at https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/5059290/1-20022007-BP-EN.PDF.pdf/edab8c31-b9f3-4c8e-b4db-4137bd045efa?t=1414683510000 (last accessed 04.11.21) 2014: Eurostat database http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=hlth_ehis_bm1i&lang=en (last accessed 25.08.20) 2019: Eurostat 2019. Data available at https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=hlth_ehis_bm1i&lang=en (last accessed 09.08.21) |
| Different methodologies may have been used to collect this data and so data from different surveys may not be strictly comparable. Please check with original data sources for methodologies used. | |
Women
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| References: | 2000: Eurostat Yearbook 2006/07. A goldmine of statistical information. Available at https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/5059290/1-20022007-BP-EN.PDF.pdf/edab8c31-b9f3-4c8e-b4db-4137bd045efa?t=1414683510000 (last accessed 04.11.21) 2014: Eurostat database http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=hlth_ehis_bm1i&lang=en (last accessed 25.08.20) 2019: Eurostat 2019. Data available at https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=hlth_ehis_bm1i&lang=en (last accessed 09.08.21) |
| Different methodologies may have been used to collect this data and so data from different surveys may not be strictly comparable. Please check with original data sources for methodologies used. | |
