1 in 6 Europeans Grapple with Obesity: Identifying the Hardest-Hit Nations in the Obesity Crisis

Sixteen percent of Europeans are obese, with the crisis escalating across the continent. Despite varying rates between nations, Europe faces a profound health challenge with over half of the EU adults overweight and with a higher risk of chronic diseases and reduced life expectancy by nearly three years.

The worst affected countries are Croatia and Malta, wherein nearly two out of three adults are overweight.

Obesity is identified using the Body Mass Index (BMI), where a value of 30 or above signifies obesity. Disparities in obesity rates are evident across gender, age, and education levels. While men tend to be overweight more than women, certain countries like Malta report higher obesity rates in women.

In 2019, Italy and France registered the lowest overweight rates, while numerous European countries exceeded a 50 percent overweight adult population. Twelve of 33 countries saw over a fifth of their adult population obese. The UK and Germany led the "Big Four" economies in obesity rates.

Over the last two decades, obesity has risen within the EU. Eastern European countries show higher obesity prevalence, strongly correlated with socioeconomic status. Obesity increases with age, except for those over 75, and decreases as educational levels rise.

The OECD attributes obesity's rise to lifestyle and environmental factors, such as urbanization, sedentary lifestyles, and readily available high-calorie foods. The WHO emphasizes the complexity of obesity, underscoring that no single solution can stop its growth. People can assess their weight status by calculating their BMI on the NHS website.