At the heart of the initiative is the role of physicians and health professionals in promoting personalized care pathways and accurate information, overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers. Numerous initiatives across the country.
The Foundation of the Italian Association of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition (ADI), on the occasion of the Obesity Day 2026, scheduled for October 10, renews its commitment to raising awareness about overweight and obesity, chronic diseases that represent a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. For the 26th edition of the campaign, the chosen message is “Health speaks all languages,” an invitation to strengthen prevention and health information in the immigrant communities present in Italy.
According to ADI, promoting proper nutrition means ensuring that everyone has access to information that is understandable and culturally appropriate. This year’s theme stems from the need to overcome linguistic and cultural barriers that can hinder the adoption of healthy lifestyles and access to prevention and care pathways. In this context, the role of healthcare professionals, particularly the primary care physician, becomes essential in guiding citizens toward informed choices and personalized weight-management pathways.
To better understand the impact of dietary changes among immigrants, the ADI Foundation collected responses from an online questionnaire addressed to residents across various regions of the country. The results show that 51% of respondents report weight gain after arriving in Italy, while 82% say they have modified their eating habits. Moreover, 72% now regularly consume more foods from the Italian traditional cuisine, and about one-third link these changes to the onset of overweight or obesity.
These numbers highlight how prevention must consider not only clinical aspects but also the social and cultural context in which people live. For this reason, the ADI Foundation has provided practical tools, including a ten-point guide for proper nutrition and a transcultural food pyramid available in multiple languages, with the goal of fostering truly inclusive health communication.
The initiative also calls attention to the importance of early diagnosis and of care coordinated by multidisciplinary teams, so that obesity management is addressed as a genuine chronic disease and not merely an aesthetic issue.
National Initiatives Across the Country
On Obesity Day, numerous initiatives are planned across the country. Among these, the Roma 5 Local Health Unit organizes free nutritional assessments for adults and children on October 10 at the Guidonia Community House, with guidance on proper dietary habits and prevention.
In Milan, the Italian Red Cross, together with specialists from INCO – National Institute for Obesity Care of the IRCCS Galeazzi-Sant’Ambrogio Hospital and the Smart Clinic network, promotes a day of free consultations and assessments on Via Beltrami, near Piazza Castello, to raise awareness among residents about the risks of overweight and obesity and the importance of appropriate care pathways.
Also in Chieti, where initiatives began early on October 5, the University of Chieti-Pescara organized a prevention day at the Unit of Sports Medicine and Cardiology (CARES). The event included nutritional assessments, body composition analyses, kinesiology evaluations, and educational moments on reading food labels, with the involvement of specialists and students from nutrition and health-related programs.
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