Body mass index and obesity in Italy: results of CUORE Project-Health Examination Survey 2018-2019

Abstract

Abstract Background The WHO Global Action Plan for the Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease (WHO-NCD) recommends to halt the rise of obesity by 2025. Obesity is largely preventable. This preliminary analysis aims to assess mean level of BMI and prevalence of obesity in the Italian general adult population using the data collected within the CUORE Project to investigate if Italy can meet the WHO-NCD target. Methods Within the health examination survey conducted in 2018-2019, mean level of BMI and prevalence of obesity (BMI > =30 kg/m2) and overweight (25 < =BMI<30 kg/m2) were assessed in representative random samples of resident population, aged 35-74 years, stratified by age and sex (822 men and 869 women), from 8 Italian Regions in Northern, Central and Southern Italy. Weight and height were measured using standardized methods. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect data on educational level that was used as a proxy of socio-economic status. The survey is funded by the Italian Ministry of Health-CCM. Results In this preliminary analysis, mean level of BMI was 26.8 kg/m2 (95% C.I. 26.5-27.1) in men and 25.9 kg/m2 (25.6-26.3) in women. Prevalence of obesity was 19% (16-22) in men and 22% (19-25) in women; prevalence of overweight was 45% (41-48) in men and 28% (25-31) in women. Obesity resulted significantly higher in persons with lower educational level (primary or middle school) vs those with higher education: 26% (20-31) vs 16% (13-19) in men and 33% (27-38) vs 17% (14-20) in women. Both in men and women prevalence of obesity was significantly higher in the Southern regions. Conclusions Preliminary data show that more than half of Italian adults are overweight/obese. However, in comparison to BMI measured in the CUORE Project 10 years earlier, the prevalence of people at normal weight is increasing, moving in the direction of the WHO-NCDs obesity target. Preventive actions at community level should be more incisive in the population at low socio-economic level. Key messages Mean BMI and prevalence of obesity in the Italian general adult population are still high. If confirmed, in the last ten years an increase of normal weight prevalence in the Italian general adult population seems to be occurred.