One in three Italian children between the ages of six and 11 have weight problems, a joint report by the Italian government and Italy's Higher Health Institute (ISS) revealed Tuesday.

The report, which was carried out in 18 Italian regions, showed that out of every 100 children aged between eight and nine, 24 are overweight and 12 are obese.

While overweight children are widespread throughout the country, obesity is a bigger problem in southern Italy, which singled out Campania (21 percent), Sicily (17 percent) and Calabria (16 percent) as having more obese children than the national average (12 percent).

Apart from inappropriate diets and meal habits, the report said lack of physical activity was to blame for the phenomenon.

Only one child in 10 is getting enough exercise for its age, while one in four spent more than four hours a day in front of the television, according to the report.

But Italian mothers did not seem overly concerned with their children's weight, with four out of 10 mothers of overweight or obese children thinking their child's weight was not out of proportion with their height.

Italian Health Undersecretary Francesca Martini said she had asked Education Minister Maria Stella Gelmini to require greater involvement of schools in the issue by making children exercise for at least two hours a week and ensuring healthy foods for school dinners.

(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2008)