The HBSC-Italia 2022 - Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Surveillance: eating habits, weight status and physical activity of adolescents (Supplemento 1 al n. 5, volume 37, 2024 del Notiziario dell'ISS)

The aim of this national report is to describe dietary habits and physical activity behaviours in a large nationally representative sample of Italian adolescents aged 11, 13 15 and 17 years. Data from the 2022 Italian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey on 89,321 adolescents were analysed to determine eating and physical activity habits. 26.8% of adolescents skipped breakfast, 32.7% and 27.8% consumed at least once a day respectively fruit and vegetables. Incorrect dietary habits were more common among boys, adolescents with lower socio-economic conditions and residents in Southern Italy. 19.3% of adolescents is obese (IOTF Cut-off). As regards the physical activity habits, we found that only 7.5% of youth practiced physical activity, more boys than girls. Boys spend more hours a day in front of screens than girls. In general, the adolescents with lower socio-economic conditions and residents in Southern Italy are less active and more sedentary.