意大利正面临日益严峻的儿童肥胖问题。根据世界卫生组织数据，意大利儿童是欧洲最超重的人群之一[1]，其中南部坎帕尼亚地区情况最为突出，部分城镇超过40%的8-9岁儿童存在超重现象[1]。那不勒斯郊区的庞蒂切利镇因此被称为全球儿童肥胖症首都之一[1]。
曾以传统地中海饮食著称的意大利，其儿童的饮食结构已发生根本性改变。仅有10%的意大利人遵循传统地中海饮食[1]，取而代之的是现代饮食模式，概括为"五P"：披萨、意面、土豆、蛋白质和面包[1]。这些以超加工食品为主的饮食选择正在加剧儿童肥胖问题。
为应对这一危机，意大利采取了前所未有的举措。2025年，意大利成为全球首个通过国家法律正式将肥胖认定为慢性进行性疾病的国家[1]。坎帕尼亚地区已启动试验项目，招募300名超重青少年参与"禁食模仿饮食"干预计划，参与者每三个月进行一次为期五天的周期[1]。
Italy is grappling with a severe childhood obesity epidemic that has transformed the nation once synonymous with the Mediterranean diet into one of Europe's most affected regions [1]. In parts of the Campania region in southern Italy, more than 40 percent of children aged 8 to 9 years are overweight [1]. The town of Ponticelli near Naples has been identified as one of the world's childhood obesity capitals [1], while World Health Organization data shows Italian children rank among Europe's most overweight populations [1].
The crisis reflects a dramatic departure from traditional eating patterns. Only 10 percent of Italians now follow the classic Mediterranean diet [1], which has been replaced by ultra-processed foods. Modern Italian childhood nutrition has been characterized by what authorities describe as the "five Ps": pizza, pasta, potatoes, protein, and bread [1]. In response to this escalating health challenge, Italy made history in 2025 by becoming the first country to legally recognize obesity as a chronic progressive disease [1].
Public health interventions are underway to address the problem. In the Campania region, a pilot program has recruited 300 overweight adolescents to participate in a "fasting-mimicking diet" consisting of five-day cycles repeated every three months [1].