LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – According to the latest data from European Union, obesity affected 16.3% of adults across the bloc in 2025. An additional 35.4% of adults were classified as pre-obese. Combined, these groups make up 51.7% of the population aged 18 and over. The statistics indicate that more than half of EU adults had a body mass index (BMI) considered overweight.
The report further reveals notable differences between men and women within the EU. The obesity rate among men stood at 17.4%, while women experienced a slightly lower rate of 15.3%. Pre-obesity affected 41.9% of men and 29.3% of women. Additionally, women exhibited a higher rate of underweight at 2.9%, compared to 1.0% among men.
Eurostat highlighted significant disparities in obesity prevalence among member states. Malta led with the highest share, with 26.6% of adults classified as obese in 2025. Latvia followed at 24.6%, and Finland was third at 23.2%. Conversely, Italy reported the lowest obesity rate at 7.0%. Greece was at 12.8%, and Romania was close behind at 12.9%.
Malta records highest obesity prevalence in the EU
BMI, or body mass index, measures weight in kilograms relative to height in metres squared. Eurostat defines adults with a BMI of 30 or more as obese. Those with a BMI from 25 up to below 30 are categorized as pre-obese. The broader overweight classification includes both obese and pre-obese individuals, while BMI under 18.5 falls into the underweight group.
Data by gender indicate that excess weight impacted a larger proportion of men than women in 2025. When combining obesity and pre-obesity rates, 59.3% of men and 44.6% of women are affected. However, the distinction becomes narrower when considering obesity alone. These figures encompass adults aged 18 and older, providing a standardized metric for cross-country comparisons within the EU.
EU health monitoring incorporates obesity figures
The obesity prevalence rate is also integral to the European monitoring aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It contributes to indicators related to SDG 2, which addresses zero hunger and better nutrition. Additionally, these figures support tracking progress toward SDG 3, which emphasizes health and well-being. Such data enable authorities to assess nutrition and health statuses across participating nations using comparable statistics.
The 2025 data position obesity alongside pre-obesity as significant contributors to excess weight within the EU. About one in six adults were affected by obesity alone, while pre-obesity impacted more than one in three. The prevalence ranged from 7.0% in Italy to 26.6% in Malta. Overall, the latest figures highlight marked differences among member states, yet confirm that the majority of EU adults are either overweight or obese.