LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – According to Eurostat data, in 2025, 16.3% of European Union adults were classified as obese. An additional 35.4% fell into the pre-obese range. Collectively, these groups made up 51.7% of individuals aged 18 and older, indicating that more than half of the EU adult population is affected by excess weight. Eurostat utilizes body mass index, or BMI, as the standard metric for comparing weight categories among participating nations.
Statistics reveal that men tend to have higher prevalence rates for both obesity and pre-obesity than women. The obesity rate among men reached 17.4%, compared to 15.3% among women. Pre-obesity affected 41.9% of men and 29.3% of women. When combined, these categories result in an overweight rate of 59.3% for men, while the figure for women stands at 44.6%. Underweight conditions are more prevalent among women at 2.9%, against 1.0% among men.
Across the EU, national data displayed considerable variation. Malta registered the highest adult obesity rate at 26.6%. Latvia followed closely with 24.6%, and Finland reported 23.2%. Conversely, Italy’s rate was the lowest at 7.0%. Greece recorded 12.8%, with Romania slightly higher at 12.9%. The difference between Malta and Italy’s figures exceeds 19 percentage points, marking the widest gap in the dataset.
Malta Tops EU Obesity Statistics
BMI, which compares an individual’s weight in kilograms to the square of height in meters, is used as a universal standard. A BMI of 30 or higher classifies a person as obese. A BMI between 25 and below 30 indicates pre-obesity, while below 18.5 is considered underweight. These thresholds offer a common statistical basis for comparing adult weight levels across EU nations.
The 2025 figures further illustrate that pre-obesity remains more widespread than obesity among adults. Over one-third fall into the pre-obese category, and about one in six adults meet the criteria for obesity. When combined, overweight categories affect over half of the adult population in the EU. The gender-specific data show a significantly higher prevalence of pre-obesity among men, although the difference in obesity rates between genders remains less pronounced.
EU Measures Obesity as Part of Health and Sustainability Goals
This obesity metric also contributes to monitoring the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It aids in tracking SDG 2, which aims to address hunger, food security, and improved nutrition. Additionally, it relates to SDG 3, focused on health and well-being. Employing uniform BMI classifications enables nations to compare adult weight patterns over time and ensures consistency in statistical assessments across EU member states.
The 2025 data confirm that excess weight remains among the most prevalent weight categories within the EU adult population. Obesity alone affects 16.3%, with pre-obesity accounting for an additional 35.4%. Malta, Latvia, and Finland report the three highest obesity rates, whereas Italy, Greece, and Romania have the lowest. Despite regional differences, the figures consistently show that overweight groups comprise a majority of adults across the EU.