LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – In 2025, Eurostat data reveals that 16.3% of European Union adults were classified as obese. Additionally, 35.4% of adults fell into the pre-obese range. Collectively, these groups made up 51.7% of individuals aged 18 and older. These figures indicate that more than half of the adult population in the EU is affected by excess weight. Eurostat relies on body mass index, or BMI, to compare weight categories across the participating nations.
Men exhibited higher rates of both obesity and pre-obesity than women. The obesity rate among men reached 17.4%, compared to 15.3% for women. Pre-obesity affected 41.9% of men and 29.3% of women. When these categories are combined, the overweight prevalence among men is 59.3%. For women, the figure stands at 44.6%. Underweight was more prevalent among women, at 2.9%, than among men, at 1.0%.
Results varied significantly across EU member states. Malta recorded the highest obesity rate at 26.6% of adults. Latvia followed with 24.6%, while Finland’s rate was 23.2%. Italy had the lowest rate at 7.0%. Greece reported 12.8%, and Romania’s was 12.9%. The data shows a nearly 20 percentage point gap between Malta and Italy, the highest and lowest rates in the dataset.
Malta Tops EU Obesity Rankings
BMI compares an individual’s weight in kilograms to the square of their height in meters. A BMI of 30 or above is classified as obesity. A BMI between 25 and below 30 indicates pre-obesity. The broader overweight category combines both pre-obesity and obesity. A BMI under 18.5 is considered underweight. These standardized thresholds enable consistent comparisons of adult weight levels across EU countries.
The 2025 data also highlight that pre-obesity remained more common than obesity among adults. Over one-third of adults fell into the pre-obese category. About one in six adults reached the obesity threshold. The combined figures mean that over half of the adult population in the EU is overweight. The gender breakdown emphasizes that men have notably higher pre-obesity levels. The difference in obesity rates between men and women, however, was less pronounced.
EU Uses Obesity Data to Monitor Health and Sustainability Goals
This obesity measurement also supports the European Union’s efforts to track progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It contributes to monitoring SDG 2, which encompasses hunger, food security, and improved nutrition. Additionally, it relates to SDG 3, focusing on health and well-being. Utilizing uniform BMI categories allows nations to compare adult weight trends over time. It also provides a consistent statistical approach across EU member states.
The 2025 findings demonstrate that excess weight remains one of the most widespread weight issues among EU adults. Obesity alone affected 16.3%, with pre-obesity accounting for an additional 35.4%. Malta, Latvia, and Finland recorded the three highest obesity rates within the bloc. In contrast, Italy, Greece, and Romania reported the lowest. Despite variations among countries, the data confirm that overweight categories collectively cover a majority of the adult population in the European Union.