Obesity is a cross-cutting problem that affects people of all ages, social classes, and backgrounds, including cyclists. And it is a cycling professional, Honorable Roberto Pella, who leads the Professional Cycling League as president, who has worked over the years to achieve a law recognizing obesity as a disease. A law that concerns everyone, a law that the Chamber approved with 155 votes in favor, 103 abstentions, and no opposition. The proposed law, which now moves to the Senate for examination, provides for recognizing obesity as a disease, including assistance services in the LEA and placing them under the National Health Service. The text is characterized by an integrated approach to fighting the disease that includes prevention, treatment, and social awareness.

"With the approval of the proposed law concerning provisions for the prevention and treatment of obesity, of which I am the primary signatory, we become the first country in the world to recognize obesity as a disease. Starting from 2019, I have been committed to involving the scientific and university world, the medical community, and patient and citizen associations, writing together and bringing a unanimous motion to this Assembly. Today, that motion and that commitment become law." This is how Roberto Pella, Forza Italia group leader in the Budget Committee, stated during the vote declaration on the Pella bill for obesity prevention and treatment.

"This is - he continued - a highly topical issue because obesity represents a very significant public health problem and expense for the national health service, also due to its complications, from diabetes to tumors and cardiovascular diseases. The World Obesity Atlas predicts that the global economic impact of overweight and obesity will reach 4.32 trillion dollars annually by 2035 if prevention and treatment measures do not improve. In Italy, based on ISTAT data, 11.8% of the adult Italian population suffers from obesity, totaling almost 6 million citizens. Childhood obesity is an urgent and concerning issue: about 19% of children between 8 and 9 years old are overweight, and 9.8% are affected by obesity. Hence, the need to adopt adequate prevention policies and disease management programs.

With this vote, Parliament demonstrates maturity and foresight regarding one of the primary, if not the most urgent, global health challenges. This is a law that, I am certain, would have been appreciated by our President Berlusconi, who has always placed people's well-being at the center of Forza Italia's proposal, considering health a primary asset to be protected. This proposal represents a first step towards obesity prevention and contrast, but above all, towards building a healthier society. The goal is to continue to commit to implementing the introduced measures to ensure more equitable and homogeneous care throughout the national territory," he concluded.