LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – In 2025, 16.3% of European Union adults were classified as obese, based on the latest Eurostat statistics. An additional 35.4% of the adult population fell into the pre-obese range. Collectively, these two groups comprised 51.7% of individuals aged 18 and above. The data indicates that more than half of the EU’s adult residents had a body mass index categorized as overweight.
The statistics also highlight notable gender disparities across the EU. The obesity prevalence was 17.4% among men and 15.3% among women. Pre-obesity affected 41.9% of men, whereas 29.3% of women were in the same category. Women had a higher rate of underweight at 2.9%, compared to 1.0% for men.
Eurostat identified significant differences in obesity levels among EU member states. Malta led with 26.6% of adults classified as obese in 2025. Latvia was next at 24.6%, with Finland ranking third at 23.2%. Conversely, Italy recorded the lowest obesity rate at 7.0%. Greece followed at 12.8%, with Romania close behind at 12.9%.
Malta records EU’s highest obesity rate
Body mass index, commonly known as BMI, evaluates weight in kilograms relative to height in metres squared. Eurostat considers adults with a BMI of 30 or above as obese. Those with a BMI ranging from 25 up to less than 30 are classified as pre-obese. The broader overweight category includes both obese and pre-obese individuals, while BMI below 18.5 falls within the underweight range.
Gender-specific data reveals that excess weight impacted a greater proportion of men than women in 2025. The combined rates of obesity and pre-obesity are 59.3% for men and 44.6% for women. The obesity-only figures show a smaller gender gap. These statistics focus on adults aged 18 and over and serve as a standardized measure for comparing weight classifications across EU nations.
Obesity data supports EU health monitoring
Obesity rates are part of European health surveillance linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This data contributes to indicators related to SDG 2, which targets zero hunger and better nutrition. It also aids in tracking progress for SDG 3, centered on health and well-being. These metrics enable policymakers to monitor nutritional and health statuses across countries in a comparable manner.
The 2025 data underscore that obesity, along with pre-obesity, constitutes a major aspect of excess weight in the EU. Obesity alone affected roughly one in six adults, while pre-obesity represented over one-third. Country-specific rates ranged from 7.0% in Italy to 26.6% in Malta. Overall, the latest figures reveal considerable variation among member states, yet confirm that the combined overweight categories impact a majority of the EU adult population.