The diet? Almost everyone does it, but it is increasingly ‘do it yourself’

More and more Italians are paying attention to what and how much they eat. But most rely on 'do it yourself' or on the advice of friends and relatives

ROME – Diet mon amour. In the land of good food Italians increasingly go on a diet, or at least do everything they can to follow a controlled diet. This is revealed by the data from the latest survey by the UniSalute Health Observatory, which together with Nomisma questioned a sample of 1,200 people about their relationship with food.

If in the survey carried out in 2021 they were less than a third (29%), today they are as many as 51%. However, this percentage is only made up of 19% of those who have relied on a specialist, such as a dietitian or nutritionist, despite 60% of those interviewed declaring themselves interested in being followed by a nutrition professional. Many instead opt for “do-it-yourself” or for theadvice of friendsand relatives (22%), while in the rest of cases a specific type of diet is was suggested by the general practitioner (6%) or by a personal trainer (4%).

WHY GO ON A DIET

But why follow a diet? The most often cited motivation is feeling good about oneself (46%), together with wanting to keep fit and take care of one’s physical appearance (46%). In the background, but still important, there are issues related to health: from those who want to solve a problem of overweight or obesity (29%), to those who try to prevent diseases and other disorders (25%), or even those who had to change their diet after finding abnormal values in blood tests (22%).

In any case, whether on a diet or not, almost one in two Italians (46%) say they have eaten in a healthier and more balanced way in the last year, and 55% consider good eating habits a fundamental aspect of your health.

WHAT DIET

The Mediterranean diet is very widespread, with 45% indicating it as the eating style most similar to their own. Followed, at a certain distance, by low-calorie diets (13%), personalized diets based on specific needs (12%) and high-protein diets (9%). However, 5% of those interviewed describe themselves as vegan or vegetarian.

READY FOODS AND TAKEAWAY ONLY SOMETIMES, 70% EAT HOMEMADE FOOD

Despite the increasingly frenetic pace of life, seven out of ten Italians (70%) reveal that they eat home-cooked food at all or almost all meals. Around one in three (32%) also consumes ready-to-eat or reheated foods at least 2 or 3 times a week, while only 16% declare that they use takeaway or takeaway services at least 2 or 3 times a week. delivery.