Overview

Overweight and obesity represent a priority public health issue in Italy. Although the adult obesity rate is one of the lowest in OECD countries, rates of child obesity are among the highest in Europe. Several policies and programmes involving multiple strategies have been implemented in the last decade to tackle obesity. The responsibility for identifying health needs, formulating health care policy and for policy implementation is shared between the central government and the regions. To reverse the obesity epidemic among the Italian population several weaknesses need to be addressed, including the persistence of strong regional disparities in health status.