LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – In 2025, the European Union saw 16.3% of its adult population classified as obese, according to recent Eurostat figures. An additional 35.4% of adults were categorized as pre-obese, bringing the total to 51.7% of individuals aged 18 and above who had a body mass index indicating overweight status. These numbers reveal that more than half of the EU’s adult demographic had a BMI falling into the overweight range.
The statistics also highlight noticeable disparities between men and women across member states. The prevalence of obesity was 17.4% among men and 15.3% among women. Pre-obesity affected 41.9% of men, compared with 29.3% of women. Additionally, women had a higher percentage of underweight individuals at 2.9%, whereas among men, this figure stood at 1.0%.
Eurostat documented significant variation in obesity prevalence among EU countries. Malta topped the list, with 26.6% of adults considered obese in 2025. Latvia followed at 24.6%, and Finland ranked third with 23.2%. Conversely, Italy reported the lowest rate at 7.0%. Greece’s figure was 12.8%, and Romania was close behind at 12.9%.
Malta records the highest obesity prevalence within the EU
Body mass index, or BMI, 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 up to below 30 are considered pre-obese. The broader category of overweight includes both obese and pre-obese individuals, while a BMI below 18.5 indicates underweight status.
Gender-specific data reveal that excess weight impacted a larger share of men than women in 2025. When combining obesity and pre-obesity rates, 59.3% of men were affected compared to 44.6% of women. The difference in obesity alone between the sexes was less pronounced. These figures pertain to adults aged 18 and older and serve as a standardized metric for comparing weight classifications across EU nations.
Obesity figures underpin EU health tracking initiatives
The prevalence of obesity also contributes to monitoring efforts aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It feeds into indicators related to SDG 2, which addresses zero hunger and improved nutrition. Additionally, it aids in tracking progress for SDG 3, focusing on health and well-being. Such data enable policymakers to observe nutritional and health trends across participating countries with comparable metrics.
The 2025 statistics show that obesity, along with pre-obesity, constitutes a significant aspect of excess weight across the EU. About one in six adults are affected by obesity alone, while over one-third are classified as pre-obese. Variations among countries range from 7.0% in Italy to 26.6% in Malta. Overall, these findings demonstrate notable differences among member states, yet they confirm that combined overweight categories encompass a majority of EU adults.