Obesity/overweight measured in adults: Italian Health Examination Survey 2023-2024 - CUORE Project

Abstract Introduction WHO recommends to halt the rise of obesity in the population by 2025 (baseline 2010) and suggests to monitor targets by periodic health examination surveys (HESs). In Italy HESs data, collected within the CUORE Project with the support and funds of Ministry of Health- CCM, were used to monitoring the obesity trend and to assess the discrepancies between self-reported and measured values. Methods In 2023-2024 a new HES included anthropometric assessment, both measured and self-reported. Up to now, data from random samples of residents in 13 Regions (of 20 regions) distributed in North, Centre and South of Italy are available (1318 men, 1336 women aged 35-74 years). Weight and height were measured using standardized methods. Statistics were standardized by Italian 2024 age-sex distribution. Results Prevalence of measured obesity (BMI > =30 kg/m2), overweight (25 < =BMI<30 kg/m2) and normal weight (18.5 < =BMI<25 kg/m2) was 23% (95% CI: 18-27%), 47% (42-52%), 30% (25-35%) in men, and 24% (19-28%), 31% (26-36%), 43% (37-48%) in women. Mean level of measured BMI was 27.6 kg/m2 (27.0-28.2kg/m2) in men and 27.3 kg/m2 (25.8-28.7kg/m2) in women. Prevalence of self-reported obesity, overweight and normal weight was 17% (13-21%), 45% (40-51%), 38% (32-43%) in men, and 17% (13-21%), 27% (22-32%), 53% (47-58%) in women. Mean level of self-reported BMI was 26.7kg/m2 (26.3-27.2kg/m2) in men and 25.3 kg/m2 (24.8-25.9kg/m2) in women. Conclusions In 2023-2024, obesity prevalence resulted similar to HES data of 15 and 5 years ago, both in men and women, going in the direction of WHO target. However, 70% of men and 55% of women are in the overweight/obesity condition. Preventive actions at national and community level should be still massively implemented. Significant differences were found between measured and self-reported obesity supporting the WHO recommendation to monitor targets by periodic HESs. Key messages • A quite stable obesity prevalence trend was observed in comparison to 15 and 5 years ago, but obesity and overweight resulted still prevalent in the Italian adult general population. • Significant differences resulted between measured and self-reported obesity prevalence supporting the WHO recommendation to monitor targets by periodic health examination surveys.