Distribution of Body-Mass-Index (BMI) in Italy 2023, by age
The age distribution of the body mass index reveals that weight increases hand in hand with age among the Italian population. In 2023, many Italians aged between 65 and 74 were overweight and obese. The age group with the largest share of normal weight people was the one including individuals who were 18 to 24 years old. However, this portion of the population was also the one with the highest incidence of underweight individuals. To put it in numbers, in 2023, 9.8 percent of Italians aged 18 to 24 were underweight.
Prevalence of overweight and underweight
Overall, the number of overweight individuals exceeded by far the number of people dealing with underweight. The number of overweight people in Italy increased from 16,642 in 2005 to 17,094 individuals in 2023. Furthermore, the number of underweight individuals peaked in 2023 as a result of a steadily increasing trend started in 2009.
Eating disorders
Weight gain or loss is often caused by eating disorders. In 2017, the age group including people aged 20 to 29 years was the one with the highest incidence of both bulimia and anorexia nervosa.
