Four out of ten Italians are overweight, and one in ten is obese. Only seven out of every hundred Italians eat the five servings of fruits and vegetables recommended by the National Guidelines for a Healthy Diet each day. These are some of the data collected by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità's Passi (adult population) and Passi d'Argento (elderly population) surveillance systems over the two-year period 2022-2023, which included approximately 80% of the Local Health Authorities, with a sample size of 275 people for each health authority. Based on the data collected on weight and height, it is estimated that four out of ten adults are overweight, with three being overweight (with a BMI between 25 and 29.9) and one being obese. Excess weight is more common with age, among men, those with financial difficulties, and those with a low level of education. Some regions in the South (Molise, Campania, Basilicata, and Puglia) have the highest percentage of overweight people, accounting for nearly half of the resident population. According to the institute's data, overweight and obesity rates rise in younger age groups (18-34 years old), while they fall in older age groups (50-69 years old). Less than half of overweight respondents say their doctor advised them to lose weight.
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