Obesity, Knowledge, and Perceived Risk: Insights from the ObeCare Project Across Italian Territorial Pharmacies.

Background

Obesity is a growing public health concern in Italy, with prevalence reaching 21.6% in 2022, particularly among the elderly. To address this issue, the ObeCare project was implemented to promote obesity prevention and awareness through community pharmacies. This study aimed to evaluate obesity-related knowledge, lifestyle behaviors, and risk perception among participants engaged in the ObeCare project.

Methods

A survey was administered to individuals >18 years old across Italian pharmacies involved in the ObeCare initiative by trained pharmacists. A validated questionnaire assessed obesity-related knowledge, risk perception, lifestyle behaviors, demographics, clinical conditions, and Body Mass Index (BMI). A multinomial logistic regression was implemented to identify predictors of overweight and obesity.

Results

Obesity was more prevalent among men, older adults, and those with multiple comorbidities. Healthier lifestyle and greater health knowledge were significantly associated with having a normal BMI, whereas low lifestyle scores (OR 13; 95% CI 2.96-57.85) and the presence of multiple comorbidities (OR 14.79; 95% CI 8.00-27.36) were strong predictors of obesity. Individuals with obesity exhibited lower knowledge (OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.02-2.37) and risk perception.

Conclusions

This study highlights the significance of lifestyle habits, knowledge, and risk perception, which will be helpful in the prevention and management of obesity. These findings support community-based education and targeted interventions, especially for high-risk groups such as men, retirees, and residents of Southern Italy.