Obesity imposes multi-billion euro economic burden on Europe

Obesity and overweight conditions are imposing significant economic burdens on European nations, costing billions of euros annually. According to a report by the Office of Health Economics (OHE) for the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), these costs represent between 0.7% and 1.4% of the national GDP in several countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Greece, Romania, and the United Kingdom.

In Romania specifically, the economic burden is estimated at 2.5 billion euros per year, which is equivalent to 0.7% of the country's GDP. The report highlights a growing trend: in 2024, 26% of adults in Europe were classified as obese (BMI of 30 or higher), while another 30% were overweight. Since 1990, the number of people living with obesity in Europe has increased by over 75%.

Nathalie Moll, Director General of EFPIA, stated that combating obesity is essential for protecting citizen health, safeguarding European healthcare systems, and ensuring sustainable economic growth in the region.