Six million Italians are obese and the crisis affects one in three Italian children, according to figures released ahead of World Obesity Day Wednesday.
Globally it is a "non-communicable pandemic," as the World Health Organization defines it, affecting over a billion people worldwide.
Figures are also growing in Italy, where approximately 6 million people (12% of the population) are affected, while almost half of adults (47%) are overweight.
Excess body weight is a problem that affects even the youngest children, with one in three children affected in our country.
Furthermore, although 3 in 4 Italians recognize excess weight as a serious health risk, only 2.7% define themselves as obese, highlighting a worrying gap between awareness and self-perception.
