Forty percent of Italian children are overweight, according to a study released Tuesday. A higher percentage of girls (42%) than boys (38%) have kilos to spare, reports the Osservatorio Nutrizionale Grana Padano, a dietary research and communications organization. Researchers tracked the eating habits of 2,238 children between 6 and 14 years of age. The study aimed at assessing how families reconciled their children\'s nutritional needs with reduced spending power, dented by the harsh economy of recent years.