LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – In 2025, European Union adults had an obesity prevalence of 16.3%, according to recent Eurostat figures. Alongside this, 35.4% of adults were classified as pre-obese. These groups combined make up 51.7% of individuals aged 18 and older. The data indicates that more than half of the EU adult population had a body mass index categorized as overweight.
The statistics also reveal notable gender differences across the EU. The obesity rate was 17.4% among men and 15.3% among women. Pre-obesity affected 41.9% of men, in contrast to 29.3% of women. Additionally, women showed a higher rate of underweight individuals at 2.9%, while the figure among men stood at 1.0%.
Eurostat highlighted significant disparities in obesity prevalence across member states. Malta had the highest percentage, with 26.6% of adults classified as obese in 2025. Latvia was next at 24.6%, followed by Finland at 23.2%. Conversely, Italy registered the lowest obesity rate at 7.0%. Greece was at 12.8%, with Romania close behind at 12.9%.
Malta Exhibits EU’s Highest Obesity Level
Body mass index, or BMI, assesses weight in kilograms relative to height squared in metres. Eurostat defines adults with a BMI of 30 or higher as obese. Those with a BMI between 25 and below 30 are considered pre-obese. The broader overweight category combines both obese and pre-obese individuals, whereas a BMI under 18.5 is classified as underweight.
Gender-specific data shows that a larger proportion of men than women were affected by excess weight in 2025. When combining obesity and pre-obesity figures, 59.3% of men and 44.6% of women fall into these categories. The obesity rate alone indicates a narrower difference between sexes. The data encompasses individuals aged 18 and older, providing a standardized measure for comparing weight categories across EU nations.
Supporting EU Health Surveillance with Obesity Data
The obesity prevalence also contributes to European efforts linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It serves as an indicator related to SDG 2, which aims to eliminate hunger and promote nutrition, as well as SDG 3, which emphasizes health and well-being. These metrics enable authorities to monitor nutrition and health conditions with comparable data across participating nations.
The 2025 results position obesity alongside pre-obesity as key contributors to excess weight within the EU. Obesity alone affected roughly one in six adults, while pre-obesity accounted for over one in three. The prevalence varied by country, ranging from 7.0% in Italy to 26.6% in Malta. Overall, the latest data underscore significant differences among member states while confirming that overweight categories collectively impact a majority of EU adults.
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