AB Data

Some Southern Regions (Molise, Campania, Basilicata, Puglia) continue to hold the record for the highest share of overweight people (nearly half of the resident population). Temporal analyses do not show significant temporal variations in overweight at a national level, but this is only the result of different trends, with not excessive but significant changes, of the two components of overweight and obesity, in the three geographical divisions between genders and age groups. Overweight increases in the South while obesity increases in the North, these are small but statistically significant changes; the increase in overweight fax lists and obesity is supported by the youngest age groups (18-34 year olds) while among 50-69 year olds both decrease; among women overweight increases but there are no gender differences in obesity. Less than half of the overweight interviewees report having received advice from their doctor to lose weight and attention is directed mainly to obese people, much less to overweight people. But the doctor's opinion is highly valued: the percentage of overweight people who declare they follow a diet is significantly higher among those who have received medical advice than among those who have not (46% vs 17%).

Among the over 65s, more than half (56%) are overweight, 41% are overweight and 15% are obese (BMI ≥30). With advancing age, especially in the over 75s, there is a physiological weight loss: in addition to the reduction in the number of people who are overweight, the number of elderly people who lose weight involuntarily is progressively increasing (defined as those who declare having lost more than 4.5 kg or more than 5% of their weight in the last 12 months).

a declining trend over the years. Consuming at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day remains a habit that involves few people, never exceeding 9% even in the groups that consume them the most.