Obesity in Italy

Obesity in Italy has been increasingly cited as a major health issue in recent years.

Overall, the Italians, along with the French and the Swiss, are considered among the slimmest people in Europe on average.^[1] In Europe, Italy was the only country where the average weight dropped.^[1]

Causes

Obesity rates in Italian two-year-olds are the highest in Europe with a rate of 42%.^[2] Causes are lack of a Mediterranean diet and lifestyle choices such as exercise and getting enough sleep.^[2]

Effects

Several studies have showen that obese men tend to have a lower sperm count, fewer rapidly mobile sperm and fewer progressively motile sperm compared to normal-weight men.^[3]

Programs

Scientists from the University of Verona designed a new type of park to help deal with obesity in Italian children.^[4] The main differences is there's an adult trainer in charge, the children are following a series of organised exercises and all the children are under 6 years old.^[4] The cost of the playground was $250,000.^[4]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "New obesity report says world is fatter, rounder, less productive". Deutsche Welle. February 4, 2011. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14818710,00.html. Retrieved February 4, 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Italien hat die dicksten Kinder in Europa". Die Welt. 13 November 2011. http://www.welt.de/gesundheit/article13715218/Italien-hat-die-dicksten-Kinder-in-Europa.html. Retrieved 14 November 2011. 
3. ^ "Obesity linked to lower sperm count in young men". Reuters. August 11, 2010. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67A44F20100811. Retrieved September 25, 2010. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} "New park opens as Italy wrestles with record obesity". BBC. 27 June 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/europe/10229869.stm. Retrieved 7 July 2010.