LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – In 2025, European Union adults experienced a 16.3% obesity prevalence, based on the latest Eurostat figures. Additionally, 35.4% of adults were categorized as pre-obese. Combined, these groups made up 51.7% of individuals aged 18 and older. The data indicates that more than half of the adult population within the EU had a body mass index classified as overweight.
The statistics also reveal notable differences between men and women across the member states. Obesity was recorded at 17.4% among men and 15.3% among women. Pre-obesity affected 41.9% of men versus 29.3% of women. Women showed a higher prevalence of underweight at 2.9%, compared to 1.0% for men.
Eurostat highlighted significant variation in obesity rates among EU nations. Malta topped the list with 26.6% of adults classified as obese in 2025, followed by Latvia at 24.6%, and Finland at 23.2%. Conversely, Italy recorded the lowest rate at 7.0%, with Greece at 12.8% and Romania close behind at 12.9%.
Malta Holds Highest Obesity Rate in the EU
BMI, or body mass index, gauges weight in kilograms relative to height in metres squared. Eurostat categorizes adults with a BMI of 30 or higher as obese. Those with a BMI between 25 and below 30 are considered pre-obese. The broad overweight classification includes both obese and pre-obese adults, while a BMI below 18.5 is classified as underweight.
Gender-specific data indicates that excess weight was more prevalent among men than women in 2025. When combining obesity and pre-obesity, the rates were 59.3% for men and 44.6% for women. The obesity-only figures show a narrower gap between sexes. These statistics pertain to individuals aged 18 and older and serve as a standardized measure for comparing weight categories across EU countries.
Obesity Data Supports EU Health Surveillance
Obesity figures are part of European efforts to monitor progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. They contribute to indicators linked to SDG 2, which aims to end hunger and promote nutrition, as well as SDG 3, focusing on health and well-being. These measures enable authorities to assess nutrition and health trends using comparable data across member states.
The 2025 data underscores that obesity, alongside pre-obesity, constitutes a significant portion of excess weight within the EU. About one in six adults was affected by obesity alone, while pre-obesity impacted over one-third. The national figures ranged from 7.0% in Italy to 26.6% in Malta, illustrating considerable variability across countries. Overall, the data confirms that the combined overweight categories encompass a majority of EU adults.