LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – Data from the latest Eurostat report indicates that in 2025, 16.3% of European Union adults were classified as obese. Meanwhile, 35.4% of adults fell into the pre-obese category. Collectively, these groups represent 51.7% of individuals aged 18 and older. The statistics reveal that more than half of the adult population within the EU has a body mass index (BMI) that qualifies as overweight.
A notable disparity exists between genders across the EU. The obesity rate stood at 17.4% among men, compared to 15.3% for women. Pre-obesity affected 41.9% of men and 29.3% of women. Additionally, women exhibited a higher rate of underweight at 2.9%, whereas among men, this figure was 1.0%.
Eurostat highlighted considerable differences in obesity prevalence among member states. Malta recorded the highest proportion, with 26.6% of adults identified as obese in 2025. Latvia followed at 24.6%, and Finland ranked third at 23.2%. Conversely, Italy had the lowest obesity rate at 7.0%. Greece reported a rate of 12.8%, with Romania close behind at 12.9%.
Malta registers the highest EU obesity prevalence
BMI, or body mass index, is a measurement that compares weight in kilograms to the square of height in metres. Eurostat classifies adults with a BMI of 30 or higher as obese. Those with a BMI from 25 to below 30 are considered pre-obese. The broader overweight category includes both obese and pre-obese individuals, while a BMI under 18.5 indicates underweight status.
Gender data reveals that excess weight impacted a larger share of men than women in 2025. Combining obesity and pre-obesity figures yields 59.3% for men and 44.6% for women. When considering obesity alone, the gap between sexes narrows. These figures pertain to individuals aged 18 and older, providing a standardized metric to compare weight classifications across EU nations.
Obesity statistics aid in EU health surveillance
The obesity prevalence figure contributes to European efforts to monitor progress in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It is an essential indicator associated with SDG 2, which aims to eradicate hunger and promote better nutrition. This data also supports tracking SDG 3, centered on health and well-being. Such indicators enable policymakers to assess nutrition and health conditions using comparable data across participating countries.
The 2025 data emphasizes that obesity, along with pre-obesity, constitutes a significant portion of excess weight in the EU. Approximately one in six adults were affected by obesity, and pre-obesity impacted more than one in three. National rates ranged from 7.0% in Italy to 26.6% in Malta. These latest figures highlight considerable variation among member states while reaffirming that the combined overweight categories encompass a majority of EU adults.