The increase regarding overweight youth is a worrying global tendency. According to WHO, the percentage of overweight or obese children between 5 and 19 years old has risen from 4% to 18% in the last 30 years. According to Coldiretti, Italy’s situation is one of the worst in Europe, with 42% of children between 5- and 9-years overweight, significantly exceeding the European average of 29.5%. The age range from 10 to 19 is also a source of concern, as there are 34.2% of overweight adolescents, compared to the European average of 24.9%*.

WHO has published guidelines for member countries, advising to protect minors from advertising of junk drinks and food rich in saturated fat, sugar and salt. The increased time kids spend in front of digital devices makes it clear that marketing, food marketing in this case, has a significant impact on their behaviors. WHO highlights how the promotion of junk food negatively affects children’s eating behaviors and encourages wrong nutritional beliefs.

The Società Italiana di Pediatria (Italian Society of Pediatrics) has welcomed these guidelines and points out how some advertisements constitute a threat to young people health. SIP requires decisive measures to promote a healthy and growth-friendly diet, including a ban on junk food advertising in children’s television programs and on social media.

Source: Coldiretti, Oms: Italia maglia nera in Ue, obeso 42% bambini