LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – According to Eurostat data, 16.3% of European Union adults were classified as obese in 2025. Additionally, 35.4% of adults fell into the pre-obese category. The combined total of these groups represented 51.7% of individuals aged 18 and above. These statistics indicate that excess weight impacts more than half of the adult population within the EU. Eurostat utilizes body mass index, or BMI, to compare different weight categories across the participating nations.
Higher prevalence rates of both obesity and pre-obesity were observed among men compared to women. The obesity rate for men reached 17.4%, whereas for women it was 15.3%. Pre-obesity affected 41.9% of men and 29.3% of women. When combining both categories, the overweight rate among men stood at 59.3%, while for women it was 44.6%. Underweight conditions were more frequently diagnosed among women, at 2.9%, compared to 1.0% in men.
Results from individual countries revealed significant variation across EU member states. Malta reported the highest adult obesity rate at 26.6%. Latvia followed with 24.6%, and Finland recorded 23.2%. Italy’s rate was the lowest at 7.0%. Greece showed a rate of 12.8%, while Romania’s was 12.9%. The data illustrate nearly a 20 percentage point difference between Malta and Italy, the countries with the highest and lowest rates respectively.
Malta Tops EU Obesity Statistics
BMI compares an individual’s weight in kilograms to the square of their height in metres. A BMI of 30 or higher is classified as obese. Scores ranging from 25 to below 30 fall within the pre-obese range. The broader overweight category combines both pre-obese and obese classifications. A BMI below 18.5 is categorized as underweight. These standardized thresholds facilitate a consistent comparison of adult weight levels across different EU countries.
The 2025 findings also reveal that pre-obesity remained more prevalent than obesity among adults. Over one-third of the adult population was found to be pre-obese, while about one in six was classified as obese. The combined effect pushes the EU’s overweight percentage above 50%. The gender disparity becomes more evident, with men showing significantly higher pre-obesity rates, though the difference in obesity rates between genders was less pronounced.
EU Monitoring of Obesity within Health Objectives
This obesity metric supports the European tracking of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It contributes to monitoring SDG 2, which addresses hunger, food security, and improved nutrition. The measure also aligns with SDG 3, focusing on health and well-being. Using uniform BMI categories enables countries to compare adult weight trends over time and provides a consistent statistical framework across EU nations.
The 2025 data highlight that excess weight remains among the most widespread weight conditions in the EU adult population. Obesity alone affected 16.3%, with pre-obesity accounting for another 35.4%. Malta, Latvia, and Finland recorded the highest obesity rates within the bloc, while Italy, Greece, and Romania reported the lowest. Despite considerable national differences, the figures confirm that overweight categories collectively encompass a majority of adults in the EU.