# Italy's child obesity surge deepens, Campania hotspot > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/obesity-framed-as-chronic-disease > Updated: 2026-07-26T14:41:58.000Z. Sources: 90. Developments: 12. WHO data from July‑August 2026 show that about 37 % of Italian children aged 7‑9 are overweight and 17 % obese, placing Italy among the highest in Europe. In Campania, over 40 % of eight‑ and nine‑year‑olds are classified as overweight or obese, with the Naples suburb of Ponticelli dubbed a world capital of child obesity. The traditional Mediterranean diet is now followed by roughly 10 % of the population, having given way to a “five P” pattern of pizza, pasta, potatoes, protein and bread. Pediatrician Roberto Berni Canani reports treating toddlers weighing 25 kg, while bariatric surgeon Dr Sonja Chiappetta performs extreme stomach‑reduction procedures. Seventeen‑year‑old Salvatore (170 kg) was denied surgery and is receiving GLP‑1 therapy. A national ISS study published in late July found 19 % of 8‑9‑year‑olds overweight and 9.8 % obese nationwide, with Campania’s combined rate climbing to 43.2 %. The same research highlighted rising risky digital behaviours: 17.3 % of 11‑13‑year‑olds and 17.9 % of 14‑17‑year‑olds exhibit problematic gaming, online gambling or social‑media use. Gaming‑related problems affect 13.6 % of younger teens and 7.9 % of older adolescents; over 600 000 young people reported gambling involvement. Smartphone dependence is reported by 49.2 % of teenagers, with 24.6 % showing symptoms before age 15. Authorities call for coordinated prevention across families, schools, health services and digital platforms, reinforced school nutrition programmes, bans on ultra‑processed foods, and targeted interventions for digital addiction. ## Claims - More than 40% of children aged 8‑9 in parts of Campania are overweight. (corroborated by 25 sources) - Only about 10% of Italians follow a true Mediterranean diet. (corroborated by 23 sources) - Pediatrician Roberto Berni Canani has treated children as young as two or three years old who weighed 25 kg. (corroborated by 16 sources) - Ponticelli, near Naples, has been described as a world capital of child obesity. (corroborated by 14 sources) - Italy is among the European countries with the highest child overweight and obesity rates, according to WHO data. (corroborated by 8 sources) - Seventeen‑year‑old Salvatore weighs 170 kg and is awaiting bariatric surgery at Betania Hospital in Ponticelli. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Doctors have prescribed GLP‑1 weight‑loss injections for severely obese children unable to undergo bariatric surgery. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Bariatric surgery performed by Dr Sonja Chiappetta removes up to 90 % of the stomach. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Salvatore has been prescribed a GLP‑1 weight‑loss injection because his weight makes surgery too risky. (corroborated by 5 sources) - The World Health Organization classifies Italian children among the most overweight in Europe. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Italy officially recognised obesity as a chronic disease in 2025. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The bariatric surgery performed by Dr Sonja Chiappetta removes up to 90% of the stomach. (corroborated by 4 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-07-26: Italy study finds over 17% of adolescents at risk of gaming, gambling and social‑media addiction Italian study of 18,000 students finds 17%‑18% of teens at risk of gaming, gambling or social‑media addiction, affecting about 680,000 youths; digital‑dependence research shows half show high smartphone use. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italian-youth-face-rising-health-risks-from-digital-addictions-and-obesity ### 2026-07-25: Italy faces child obesity surge as Mediterranean diet declines Italy’s child obesity is rising sharply, with over 40% of 8‑9‑year‑olds in Campania overweight; only ~10% follow the Mediterranean diet, and cases like 170‑kg teen Salvatore awaiting bariatric surgery highlight 38 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italy-faces-rising-child-obesity-crisis-in-campania ### 2026-07-25: Italy Declares Obesity a Chronic Disease as Experts Push Daily Activity to Tackle Child Overweight Italy labels obesity a chronic disease and tests a restrictive diet for teens, while UNICEF highlights rising child obesity worldwide and experts recommend daily playful activity. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italy-declares-obesity-a-chronic-disease-as-experts-push-daily-activity-to-tackle-child-overweight ### 2026-07-23: Italy releases first national guideline for adolescent obesity treatment Italy's ISS issues its first national guideline for adolescent obesity, defining it as a chronic disease and recommending multidisciplinary, personalised treatment, including drugs and surgery. 22 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italy-issues-first-national-guideline-for-treating-adolescent-obesity ### 2026-07-21: Italy's Diabetes Rate at 6% Highlights Obesity as Major Risk Factor Diabetes affects 6% of Italians, with type 2 linked to obesity; higher rates in the south and 10% of children obese, says A MD president. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italys-diabetes-rate-at-6-highlights-obesity-as-major-risk-factor ### 2026-07-08: Italy reports obesity surge in young women and pioneers disease‑status law Italy’s obesity rate among 18‑34‑year‑olds, especially women, has doubled; the government passed a law classifying obesity as a chronic disease and aims to integrate cardiovascular prevention, marking a global‑ 14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italy-sees-sharp-rise-in-obesity-among-women-aged-1834 ### 2026-07-07: Novo Nordisk Italy Calls for Unified Action on Obesity Novo Nordisk Italy's Jens Olesen urged joint action against obesity at a Rome forum, noting 6 million adult cases, high youth rates and the company's role beyond treatment. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/novo-nordisk-italy-urges-joint-effort-to-combat-obesity-surge ### 2026-06-30: Italy's Senate convenes to advance implementation of pioneering obesity law Italy's Senate held a conference to operationalise Law 149/2025, the first globally to deem obesity a disease, focusing on the Obesity Observatory, treatment pathways, funding and equitable access. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italys-senate-moves-to-implement-obesity-as-disease-law ### 2026-06-19: Japan and Novo Nordisk Launch Initiative to Treat Obesity as Chronic Disease Japan's obesity society and Novo Nordisk aim to reclassify obesity as a chronic disease, seeking broader treatment access while highlighting the condition’s wide health impacts. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/japan-redefines-obesity-as-chronic-disease-and-expands-treatment-access ### 2026-06-18: Lombardy approves law recognizing obesity as chronic disease, allocates €3.3 million Lombardy's health commission unanimously approved a law classifying obesity as a chronic disease, creating a regional care network and allocating €3.3 million for prevention and services. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lombardy-approves-law-recognizing-obesity-as-chronic-disease-allocates-33-million ### 2026-05-30: Obesity Reframed as Chronic Disease at European and Italian Conferences European and Italian conferences declared obesity a chronic disease, urging multidisciplinary care and highlighting GLP‑1 drug benefits while aiming to reduce stigma and broaden treatment guidelines. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/obesity-reframed-as-chronic-disease-at-european-and-italian-conferences ### 2026-05-13: Van obesity centre declares obesity a chronic disease, not a cosmetic issue Prof. Dr. Sebahattin Çelik of Van’s Obesity Centre says obesity is a chronic disease, citing 2,000 patients served and 60% weight‑loss success. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/van-obesity-centre-declares-obesity-a-chronic-disease-not-a-cosmetic-issue --- Cite as: Italy's child obesity surge deepens, Campania hotspot. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/obesity-framed-as-chronic-disease