From Recognition to Action: Bridging Science and Policy through the Italian Obesity Law - A Model for Europe.

Obesity is a chronic, progressive, and relapsing disease (1).It is a result of multiple complex causes (genetic, biological, social, psychological, and environmental), and, as the fifth leading cause of death worldwide and a gateway to several other conditions including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain forms of cancer, it comes with heavy costs for healthcare systems.In 2022, one in eight people were living with obesity worldwide, while 2 billion people are expected to be affected by the disease within the next decade (2).In European countries, obesity prevalence deeply varies, going from 10% of adults in France to 35% in Romania (2).In Italy, 9.8% of children and 3.9% of 15 years old adolescents, and 17,81% of adults are affected by obesity (3, 4).In addition, national data from the 2022 Health Behaviour in School Aged Children survey, coordinated by the Istituto Superiore di Sanit (ISS, Italian National Institute of Health), show that unhealthy eating patterns and insufficient physical activity are common among adolescents (5).Together with findings from the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative, which report that 44.2% of boys and 38.8% of girls aged 6-9 years in Italy are living with overweight or obesity (6), these data raise serious concern for the future.Given the strong tracking of excess weight from childhood into adulthood, a further increase in adult obesity prevalence is likely to increase in the coming years.Growing evidence shows that addressing obesity requires coordinated, sustained, and structured collaboration among multiple stakeholders, including scientific societies, policymakers, and patient representatives (7).However, despite major advances in research and treatment, few health systems have translated this knowledge into integrated care frameworks.Italy has emerged as a pioneer in this field with the passage of Law No. 149/2025, entitled "Provisions for the Prevention and Care of Obesity", approved on October 3, 2025.Originating from Legislative Act No. 1483 and its annexes, and sponsored by Hon.Roberto Pella, this new law establishes a comprehensive framework for addressing obesity (6).This legislation, specifically