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European obesity trends and economic health impacts

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2026-09-27 07:48 UTC → 2026-09-27 09:47 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Eurostat data from 2025 indicates that obesity and pre-obesity are significant public health challenges across Europe, with more than half of the European Union adult population carrying excess weight. In the EU, 16.3% of adults were classified as obese, while 35.4% were categorized as pre-obese. Regional disparities remain high: Malta reported the highest obesity rate at 26.6%, followed by Latvia (24.6%) and Finland (23.2%), while Italy maintained the lowest rate at 7.0%. In Greece, the health landscape is complicated by high rates of chronic disease, with over 40% of adults living with a chronic condition. The Greek healthcare system is notably hospital-centric, directing over 40% of expenditures toward hospitals compared to a European average of 28%, while spending on preventative care was only 3.1% in 2023. A report by the Office of Health Economics (OHE) for the EFPIA, covering Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Greece, Romania, and the United Kingdom, details the severe economic impact of these trends. The annual economic cost of an elevated Body Mass Index (BMI) ranges from 0.7% to 1.4% of national GDP. Specific annual costs include €55.2 billion in Germany, €43.2 billion in the United Kingdom, and approximately €20 billion each in Spain, Italy, and France. In Greece, the annual economic burden is estimated at €3.4 billion, representing 1.4% of its GDP. ~~Indirect costs, including productivity losses from absenteeism, premature mortality, and patient care time, account for between 18% and 58%~~ Newer data highlights a growing trend: in 2024, 26% of adults in Europe were classified as obese, while 30% were overweight, marking a more than 75% increase in the ~~total economic impact. The report emphasizes~~ number of people living with obesity in Europe since 1990. In Romania, the ~~need~~ economic burden is estimated at €2.5 billion per year, equivalent to ~~recognize obesity as a chronic disease and calls for improved prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies.~~ 0.7% of its GDP.

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