LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – In 2025, European Union adults showed a 16.3% obesity rate, based on the latest Eurostat data. Additionally, 35.4% of adults were classified as pre-obese. Together, these groups represented 51.7% of individuals aged 18 and older. The statistics reveal that more than half of the EU adult population has a body mass index considered overweight.
The data highlights notable differences between men and women across the EU. The obesity rate among men was 17.4%, while it was 15.3% for women. Pre-obesity affected 41.9% of men and 29.3% of women. Women had a higher rate of being underweight at 2.9%, compared to 1.0% among men.
Eurostat identified significant variations in obesity levels among EU countries. Malta led with 26.6% of adults classified as obese in 2025. Latvia followed at 24.6%, and Finland ranked third at 23.2%. Conversely, Italy recorded the lowest obesity rate at 7.0%. Greece was at 12.8%, and Romania was close behind at 12.9%.
Malta registers highest EU obesity rate
BMI, or body mass index, measures weight in kilograms relative to height in metres squared. Eurostat defines 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 adults. A BMI below 18.5 is classified as underweight.
Gender data shows more men than women were affected by excess weight in 2025. Combining obesity and pre-obesity, 59.3% of men and 44.6% of women were impacted. The difference in obesity alone between the sexes was smaller. These figures cover individuals aged 18 and older. They serve as a common measurement to compare weight categories across EU nations.
Obesity statistics support EU health initiatives
The obesity rate contributes to European efforts linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It is part of indicators related to SDG 2, which addresses zero hunger and better nutrition. The data also helps monitor SDG 3, focusing on health and well-being. These measures enable authorities to track nutrition and health trends across participating countries with comparable data.
The 2025 figures place obesity along with pre-obesity as key contributors to excess weight in the EU. About one in six adults was affected by obesity alone. Pre-obesity impacted over one-third of adults. Country-specific results ranged from 7.0% in Italy to 26.6% in Malta. The latest figures reveal significant differences among member states. They confirm that combined overweight categories include a majority of EU adults.