LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – In 2025, European Union adults saw a prevalence of obesity reaching 16.3%, based on the latest Eurostat statistics. An additional 35.4% of adults were classified as pre-obese. Combined, these groups represented 51.7% of individuals aged 18 and above. These numbers highlight that more than half of the EU adult population had a body mass index categorized as overweight.
The statistics further revealed notable gender disparities within the EU. Obesity was recorded at 17.4% among men, compared to 15.3% among women. Pre-obesity affected 41.9% of men and 29.3% of women. Women also showed a higher underweight rate at 2.9%, whereas among men, this rate was only 1.0%.
Eurostat identified significant differences in obesity prevalence among EU member states. Malta had the highest percentage, with 26.6% of adults classified as obese in 2025. Latvia followed at 24.6%, with Finland ranking third at 23.2%. Conversely, Italy recorded the lowest obesity rate at 7.0%. Greece was close behind at 12.8%, with Romania slightly higher at 12.9%.
Malta’s Obesity Rate Tops EU Rankings
Body Mass Index, or BMI, measures weight in kilograms relative to height in metres squared. According to Eurostat, adults with a BMI of 30 or more are classified as obese. Those with a BMI between 25 and below 30 are considered pre-obese. The broader category of overweight encompasses both obese and pre-obese individuals, while a BMI below 18.5 is categorized as underweight.
Gender-specific data indicates that a larger proportion of men than women were affected by excess weight in 2025. When combining obesity and pre-obesity, 59.3% of men and 44.6% of women fell into these categories. The obesity-only figures show a narrower difference between sexes. The data, covering individuals aged 18 and older, provides a standard measurement for comparing weight classifications across EU countries.
EU Obesity Statistics Support Health Policy Monitoring
Obesity rates also contribute to the European tracking of progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These figures are used to assess indicators associated with SDG 2, which aims for zero hunger and better nutrition. They also aid in monitoring SDG 3, dedicated to health and well-being. Such data enable policymakers to observe nutrition and health trends consistently across participating nations.
The 2025 data position obesity alongside pre-obesity as key contributors to excess weight in the EU. Approximately one in six adults was affected solely by obesity, with pre-obesity affecting more than one-third. The prevalence varied from 7.0% in Italy to 26.6% in Malta, showing considerable variation among member states while confirming that overweight categories collectively impact a majority of the adult population in the EU.
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