Prevalence and trends of obesity in children and adults of South Europe.

Obesity is an epidemic phenomenon in both developed and developing societies. In the majority of South European countries, obesity prevalence is high among children and adolescents while, in adults, epidemic proportions are found in Greece, Portugal and the Southern areas of Spain and Italy, with particular prevalence of abdominal obesity. Secular trends also show increasing rates during the last 20 years mostly among young children and among males in adulthood. In some countries such as Spain and Greece, nutrition transition contributed largely to the increase of obesity prevalence. Other particular predisposing factors are sedentary behaviours, variations of socio-economic status and probably the warm climate. Genetic factors could also play a role. Preventive and treatment strategies are urgently needed to stop the obesity epidemic in children of Southern European countries.