Obesity is a chronic disease: the Senate has just approved the bill by confirming the one fired from the Chamber in recent months. In this way, Italy becomes the first country in the world to recognize obesity as a real disease “progressive and relapse“.
But what does the law specifically consist of? The text, of parliamentary initiative, takes into account a national program for the prevention and care of the disease, a training plan for doctors and pediatricians and the institution at the Ministry of Health, of the observatory for the study of obesity.
Of this, a single neo: obesity as chronic pathology will not fall into the essential levels of assistance.
Obesity recognized as a disease
Italy takes a historical step: with the new law, obesity is officially recognized as a pathology. However, at least for now, the rule does not insert the disease in the essential levels of assistance (Lea), or the list of services guaranteed by the National Health Service.
Article 2 of the law is in fact limited to recalling the disbursement to the obese patients of the services already included in the Lea, without introducing new rights or uniform paths at national level.
A national program for prevention and care
The heart of the provision is the creation of a “national program for the prevention and care of obesity”. This plan will move on several fronts:
Next to this, a national observatory for the study of obesity (osori) will be born, based on the Ministry of Health, in charge of monitoring the Italian situation, collecting data, studying trends and disseminating good practices.
The funds allocated
To start the program, the law provides for limited resources:
To these are added a stable financing of 400,000 euros per year from 2025 for the formation of university students, doctors and health personnel engaged in the prevention, diagnosis and care of obesity.
The funds will be divided between the regions with special decrees.
Criticism: “A shy law, without real resources”
The opposition welcomes the law as a first step, but considers it far from being a turning point.
The Democratic Party, which has abstained, underlines the lack of inclusion of obesity in the Lea, without which there are no guarantees of uniform paths for patients throughout Italy. Furthermore, according to Senator Ylenia Zambito, the measure neglects school prevention, does not coordinate with the law on eating disorders and has insufficient funds to be truly effective.
Italy forerunner in Europe
Despite the limits, the law represents an important precedent internationally. The hope is that Italy can be promoted to European prevention and awareness initiatives, also connecting them to sporting events and campaigns against stigma and bullying related to obesity.
Without a doubt, the law marks a historical step forward in the recognition of obesity, but it remains incomplete: there are no Lea, adequate resources and strong operational tools. A starting point, not yet of arrival.
