Research
Mixed
Obesity prevalence in Europe has reached epidemic proportions, with significant geographic variation showing higher rates in Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe compared to Western and Northern Europe.
Obesity is a widespread and serious medical disorder in Europe, not just a cosmetic issue. Rates vary by region, with Southern and Eastern Europe facing higher burdens. Public health strategies must prioritize effective therapeutic and preventive measures tailored to these geographic disparities.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
In Europe, the prevalence of obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2) in men ranged from 4.0% to 28.3% and in women from 6.2% to 36.5%. We observed considerable geographic variation, with prevalence rates in Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe being higher than those in Western and Northern Europe.
Why this rating
Systematic review of 49 representative studies using direct measurements, though cross-sectional in nature.
Source
Obesity prevalence from a European perspective: a systematic review
Anne Berghöfer et al. · BMC Public Health · 2008
DOI 10.1186/1471-2458-8-200
systematic_reviewCited 740×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
Related findings · Mixed
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