Valentina Pilato

Severe obesity prevalence in 8- to 9-year-old Italian children: a large population-based study

Background and Objectives:Little information is available on severe obesity in childhood. This study estimates the prevalence of severe obesity in 8- to 9-year-old children resident in Italy and its association with gender, age, geographical area and parents’ nutritional status and education using the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) criteria.Subjects/Methods:A nationally representative sample of grade 3 Italian students was measured in 2010 (N=42 431) using standardized instruments and methodology. Severe obesity in children was assessed using definitions provided by the WHO and by the IOTF. Prevalence was estimated within categories of sociodemographic variables and their independent effects were estimated using multivariate logistic regression.Results:The estimated prevalence of severe obesity in 2010 was 4.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 4.2–4.7) according to the WHO definition and 2.7% (95% CI: 2.5–2.9) with IOTF cutoffs. These values were slightly lower than those observed in 2008. The prevalence was higher in males, in 8-year-old children and in the South. Parental low education and high body mass index were strongly associated with childhood severe obesity.Conclusion:According to the definition used, between 30 000 and 50 000 children aged 8–9 years suffer severe obesity in Italy.

Promotion of Fruits and Vegetables Consumption: Results of a School-Based Intervention in a Sample of 13-15 Years Old Italian Students

Background: The …e vai con la frutta (lets go with fruit) project was designed to respond to the worrying low consumption of fruits and vegetable in the large portion of population, especially in youth. The main objective was to increase fruit and vegetable consumptions at school level. Methods: In 2010/11, we randomly selected subjects from middle and high schools in five Italian regions. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups: intervention (I) and control (C). A questionnaire on fruits and vegetables consumption was administered, at the baseline as well as at end of the period. The sample size was evaluated on the expected frequency of 0.5 for a binomial random variable, of ± 1.54% with IC of 95%. Results: These results confirmed that adolescent students at baseline survey eat less than the amount of fruits and vegetables consumption recommended by the International guidelines. After the intervention time, we observed an increment in fruits and vegetables consumptions both in middle and high school students. Regarding the impact of the intervention on the factors like knowledge, attitudes and behaviour, there was a positive change in the behaviour only in the intervention group, in coherence with the consumption variations examined.