LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – According to the most recent Eurostat statistics, in 2025, 16.3% of European Union adults were classified as obese. An additional 35.4% of adults fell into the pre-obese category. Collectively, these groups made up 51.7% of individuals aged 18 and older, indicating that more than half of the EU’s adult population had a body mass index categorized as overweight.
In the same timeframe, data highlighted a notable gender disparity across the EU. The obesity prevalence stood at 17.4% among men and 15.3% among women. Meanwhile, pre-obesity was found in 41.9% of men compared to 29.3% of women. Interestingly, women exhibited a higher rate of being underweight at 2.9%, whereas for men, this figure was 1.0%.
Eurostat identified significant variation in obesity levels among member states. Malta led with the highest proportion, with 26.6% of adults classified as obese in 2025. Latvia was next at 24.6%, followed by Finland at 23.2%. On the lower end, Italy registered the lowest obesity rate at 7.0%, while Greece was at 12.8%, and Romania closely behind at 12.9%.
Malta reports the highest EU obesity figures
BMI, or body mass index, assesses weight in kilograms relative to height in metres squared. Eurostat defines adults with a BMI of 30 or above as obese, while those with a BMI from 25 to under 30 are classified as pre-obese. The broader category of overweight includes both obese and pre-obese individuals, with a BMI below 18.5 indicating underweight.
Gender-specific data indicates that excess weight impacted more men than women in 2025. When combining obesity and pre-obesity, the rates reach 59.3% for men and 44.6% for women. The difference narrows when considering only obesity, but both figures are based on individuals aged 18 and over, offering a standardized metric for comparing weight categories across the EU.
Obesity figures bolster EU health surveillance efforts
The obesity prevalence also plays a key role in European efforts to monitor progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It contributes to indicators linked to SDG 2, which aims for zero hunger and better nutrition. Additionally, these data support tracking SDG 3, focused on health and well-being. Such measures enable policymakers to evaluate nutrition and health trends across member states with comparable information.
In 2025, obesity and pre-obesity together represent significant contributors to excess weight in the EU. About one in six adults are affected by obesity alone, while pre-obesity impacts more than one in three. Country-specific results range from 7.0% in Italy to 26.6% in Malta. Overall, the latest findings highlight considerable differences across nations but also confirm that the majority of EU adults fall into overweight categories.