(ANSA) Rome, March 10 - As many as 1.3 million young
Italians of both sexes suffer from grave obesity, making up 3%
of the population, according to a report presented Tuesday by
the Italian Society of Obesity surgery and metabolic illnesses
(Sicob).
Each year some 10,000 of the obese young people seek
treatment from surgeons to resolve the problem that can reduce
life expectancy by as much as 10 years, comparable to some forms
of cancer, according to the report by Sicob doctors delivered to
the upper house of Parliament Tuesday.
Most operations are carried out in clinics in northern
Italy while obese patients more often come from southern Italian
regions, said Sicob president Nicola Di Lorenzo.
"These are life-saving operations on patients who often
have many other illnesses such as diabetis or hypertension," he
said.
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