LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – According to the latest Eurostat statistics, 16.3% of European Union adults in 2025 were classified as obese. An additional 35.4% of adults fell into the pre-obese range. Collectively, these groups comprised 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 considered overweight.
The statistics also highlight a noticeable gender disparity across the EU. Obesity was observed at a rate of 17.4% among men, compared to 15.3% among women. Pre-obesity affected 41.9% of men, whereas it was present in 29.3% of women. Additionally, women showed a higher prevalence of underweight at 2.9%, while among men, this figure was only 1.0%.
Eurostat identified significant differences in obesity prevalence among EU member countries. Malta recorded the highest proportion, with 26.6% of adults classified as obese in 2025. Latvia followed with 24.6%, and Finland ranked third at 23.2%. Conversely, Italy reported the lowest obesity rate at 7.0%. Greece was next at 12.8%, with Romania close behind at 12.9%.
Malta exhibits the highest EU obesity rate
Body mass index, or BMI, is used to assess weight relative to height, measured in kilograms divided by the square of height in metres. Eurostat considers adults with a BMI of 30 or higher as obese. Those with BMI from 25 up to below 30 are classified as pre-obese. The broader category of overweight includes both obese and pre-obese individuals, while a BMI under 18.5 indicates underweight status.
Gender-based data reveal that a larger proportion of men than women experienced excess weight in 2025. When combining obesity and pre-obesity, the figures indicate 59.3% for men and 44.6% for women. The difference between the sexes in obesity alone was less pronounced. These statistics focus on adults aged 18 and older and provide a standardized measure for comparing weight categories across EU nations.
EU health monitoring benefits from obesity data
The obesity prevalence also contributes to European efforts aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It is part of indicators associated with SDG 2, which emphasizes zero hunger and better nutrition. Furthermore, the data supports monitoring SDG 3, which aims to improve health and well-being. These metrics enable authorities to assess nutrition and health trends consistently across participating nations.
Obesity and pre-obesity together represent a significant component of excess weight within the EU in 2025. About one in six adults was affected solely by obesity, while pre-obesity impacted over one-third. Country-specific figures ranged from 7.0% in Italy to 26.6% in Malta. The latest data demonstrate notable variation among member states yet confirm that the combined overweight categories encompass the majority of EU adults.