Iss: in Italy 19% of 8-9 year old children are overweight

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As in previous years, ISS surveillance involved all regions and autonomous provinces and enrolled over 50 thousand girls and as many families. Parents reported that almost 2 out of 5 boys and girls do not eat an adequate breakfast in the morning, more than half consume a large mid-morning snack, 1 out of 4 drinks sugary/fizzy drinks daily and consume 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. The indicators on eating habits, as well as those on physical activity, have only changed slightly compared to the previous data collection (2019). A north-south geographical gradient remains stable with higher prevalences of excess weight in girls and boys resident in southern Italy. The socio-economic conditions of families also have an impact on excess weight and lifestyle in general.

“The data, while noting a decrease in child excess weight from 2008 to today – stated the director of the CNaPPS, Giovanni Capelli – still highlight high prevalences of excess weight and inappropriate lifestyles of girls and boys. This can have implications for their healthSchool, family, health professionals and the whole society can play an important role in the prevention and treatment of obesity and in promoting lifestyle habits. healthy lifestyles. It is a priority to address the unjustifiable inequalities due to geographical and socioeconomic factors”.
During the event, the results of the EPaS-Iss study ‘Effects of the pandemic from Covid-19 on the health behaviors and lifestyle of girls, boys and their families resident in Italy’, which made it possible to detect and investigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic strong> has had on the lifestyles and well-being of girls and boys in the third year of primary school and their families.

Promoted and financed by the ISS and conducted in collaboration with the Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) of the WHO European Region, EPaS-Iss carried out a quantitative and a qualitative survey from 2021 to 2023 thanks to the ‘OKkio alla Salute’ network. The study found that, during the pandemic period, boys and girls increased their consumption of salty snacks (24%) and sweet foods (25%) and slightly decreased their consumption of fruit (8%) and vegetables. (9%). Although greater daily irregularity in the consumption of meals emerged, positive changes were also noted such as greater consumption of family meals (39%) and food cooked at home together with sons and daughters (42%).
Parents reported that, compared to the pre-pandemic period, their sons and daughters experienced a worsening of their physical and psychosocial well-being. In particular, they noticed a decrease in vitality and energy, as well as an increase in feelings of sadness and loneliness.

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In analogy with what has been found at an international level, the EPaS-Iss data on movement and sedentary lifestyle have highlighted a reduction in the time dedicated to active play and outdoor activities (44%) and an increase of time spent in front of an electronic device (53%). The families declared that they had received support at school even though a pronounced heterogeneity in response to the pandemic on the part of the different educational institutions emerged.
The data from the study also highlighted an increase in educational inequalities following the distance learning, especially among the most vulnerable girls and boys.