Estonia ranks fifth in Europe by share of adults with obesity
In Estonia, 22% of the population aged 18 and over have obesity — the fifth-highest rate in Europe. Eurostat provided the data for 2025, ERR News reports.
Indicators in EU countries
The average obesity rate in the EU was 16.3%. The highest share of adults with obesity was recorded in Malta, at 26.6%.
Latvia followed with 24.6%, Finland with 23.2%, Ireland with 22.1%, and Estonia with 22%. The lowest shares were recorded in Italy, at 7%, Greece, at 12.8%, and Romania, at 12.9%.
Overweight and body mass index
Another 35.4% of Europe’s adult population were overweight, or pre-obese: their body mass index ranged from 25 to 30. Overall, more than half of adults in Europe belonged to the overweight or obesity categories.
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Obesity was recorded in 17.4% of men and 15.3% of women. Overweight affected 41.9% of men and 29.3% of women. Underweight was more common among women: 2.9%, compared with 1% among men.
Data on Estonia
Estonia’s National Institute for Health Development previously reported that last year more than 60% of the country’s adult residents were overweight, while 26% had obesity. According to the study, excess body weight creates additional costs for society through its impact on healthcare, productivity, and economic well-being.
Obesity is defined by body mass index, which is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters. A figure of 30 or higher is considered obesity, while 25 to 30 is considered pre-obesity.
