Main trends in the health conditions of young people

Adolescent health surveillance was officially recognized as a national and regional priority by Prime Ministerial Decree 109/2017. The Italian National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità - ISS) is the coordinating body, and the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study is the official instrument for monitoring adolescent health across the country.

In 2022, as part of this study, a nationwide survey was conducted in all Italian Regions. It involved students aged 11, 13, 15, and 17, specifically those attending the first and third grades of middle school and the second and fourth grades of high school. The 2022 HBSC survey highlighted the following health trends among young people in Italy:

• Mental health: Since 2000, mental health disorders among young people, such as anxiety, depression and stress, have been increasing, often linked to social pressures and intensive use of social media. The COVID-19 lockdown further worsened youth mental health: 41% of adolescents reported a negative impact on their psychological well-being. The Mental Health Report (2023) provides additional insight, offering a national-level analysis based on data from the Mental Health Information System (Sistema informativo salute mentale – SISM). It indicates that mental health issues are particularly prevalent among young adults aged 18–24, with 74.2 cases per 10,000 inhabitants among males and 98.6 among females, confirming the growing demand for mental health support in this age group.
• Risky Health Behaviours:
  • Alcohol: over half of 15-year-olds reported having consumed alcohol in the period immediately preceding the survey. Binge drinking and early intoxication (especially among girls) are increasing.
  • Smoking: 29% of 15-year-old girls and 20% of boys reported smoking at least once in the period leading up to data collection.
  • Gambling: nearly 47% of 15-year-old boys stated they had gambled at least once in their lives, confirming this as a predominantly male behaviour.
• Physical inactivity and obesity: In line with WHO recommendations, the Ministry of Health promotes guidelines stating that children and adolescents aged 5-17 should engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per day. Data show a growing trend of sedentary behaviour among young people, and a significant decline in regular physical activity. A large share of adolescents, particularly girls, spend more than two hours per day on screens, mainly for social media use. This contributes to rising rates of overweight and obesity. To counter these trends, initiatives such as the Gaining Health (Guadagnare Salute) (Cf. 7.3) program promote sports participation and the adoption of more active lifestyles.
• Nutrition Issues: Regular breakfast consumption decreases with age and is notably lower among girls. Daily intake of fruits and vegetables remains insufficient across all age groups and tends to decline as adolescents grow older. Overall, more than 22% of adolescents are overweight or obese, with significantly higher prevalence rates in the southern regions of the country.
• School and Stress: School satisfaction is low and decreases with age, especially among boys. Over 60% of students report experiencing stress due to school demands.
• Use of technology and digital well-being: The increasing use of social media has introduced new challenges to the well-being of young people. Data show that excessive use of digital devices is associated with issues such as sleep disruption and increased sense of social isolation.

Youth health is also monitored through other national surveys, such as the PASSI (Progress of Health Authorities for Health in Italy) Surveillance System, which provides detailed information on lifestyle habits and key risk factors among young people. The data collected are essential for informing public health policies and guiding prevention strategies at both national and regional levels.

Main concepts

Art. 32 of the Italian Constitution states: “The Republic shall safeguard health as a fundamental right of the individual and as a social interest and shall guarantee free medical care to the indigent. No one shall be forced to undergo medical treatment unless provided for by law. In no case shall the law violate the limits imposed by respect for the natural person.”

In 2023, Constitutional Law 1/2023, introduced the following amendment to Art. 33 of the Constitution: “The Republic recognises the educational and social value of sporting activity in all its forms and its role in supporting physical and psychological well-being.”

In Italy, the concept of health is interpreted holistically, encompassing emotional, mental and social dimensions. Italian policies promote an integrated approach to health, taking into account physical, mental and environmental factors