The National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion of the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS) in Rome has been designated as the WHO Collaborating Centre for Childhood Obesity. During the next 4 years, the Collaborating Centre will provide technical advice and assistance to WHO programmes and activities on childhood obesity prevention, policies and strategies that promote health in Europe, and the training of instructors to promote breastfeeding in the WHO European Region.
In the last 10 years, the National Centre has successfully developed, organized and implemented a national population surveillance system on childhood obesity in Italy (OKkio alla SALUTE) – an integral part of the WHO Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI). It has provided support to WHO/Europe in the field of childhood obesity surveillance for years, and its work on nutrition and breastfeeding interventions has contributed to a reduction of childhood overweight and obesity in Italy.
Efficient action to stop childhood obesity
Childhood overweight and obesity are serious public health challenges worldwide. In the WHO European Region, an estimated 29% of boys and 27% of girls aged 7–9 are overweight. These children are at greater risk of developing conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and obesity in adulthood.
Prevention is recognized as the most efficient way to curb the obesity epidemic. A number of evidence-based strategies for addressing childhood obesity have been identified as effective over the years. In addition to the more traditional advice on increasing physical activity and nutritional/dietary advice, recent studies confirm that breastfeeding protects against childhood overweight and obesity. Together with other targeted interventions, promoting breastfeeding is an important component of strategies to reduce the risk of overweight and obesity in children.