Obesity and economic performance of young workers in Italy

It is a well-known fact that obesity is nowadays one of the most important public health concerns: obesity is a risk factor for numerous health problems and many chronic diseases, and its prevalence has increased by 10–40 percent in most European countries over the last decade (WHO, 2003). Moreover, obesity affects not only adults but also teenagers and children, especially in southern Europe (IOTF, 2002, 2003).