As of 2024, in nearly every country in Europe, over half of adults were classified as overweight or obese. The highest rate was recorded in Romania, with ** percent of adults self-reporting as overweight or obese. In both Croatia and the United Kingdom, around ** percent of adults had a BMI of over 25. Europe one of the worst affected regions Europe had the second-highest number of obese adults across the WHO regions, only behind the region of the Americas. Over *** million adults were classed as obese in Europe in 2020. The number of obese adults in Europe was forecast to grow to *** million by 2035. Problems also with childhood obesity In 2020, ** million children in Europe were overweight, the highest across all continents. It was forecast with current trends that, by 2035, *** million children would be overweight. A further ** million children across the continent were classed as obese. Children who are overweight or obese are at a higher risk of developing numerous health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, asthma, and high blood pressure.

In 2020, the countries with the highest share of men who were overweight or obese were Tonga, Samoa, and the United States. At that time, around 80 percent of men in Tonga aged 20 years and older were overweight or obese. Men were considered overweight if they had a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 25kg/m², and obese if they had a BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m². Obesity among men Women tend to have higher rates of obesity than men, but worldwide rates have risen for both and are expected to climb in the coming years. In 2020, around 14 percent of men worldwide were obese, compared to 18 percent of women. The region of the Americas has the highest prevalence of obesity among men, but every region is expected to see increases in obesity among men over the next decade. In 2020, around 32 percent of men in the Americas were considered obese, with this rate expected to rise to 47 percent by 2035. Obesity raises the risk of developing a number of health conditions including high blood pressure, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Obesity in the United States In 2023, almost 33 percent of adults in the United States were considered obese. This was an increase from 27.4 percent in the year 2011. Women in the United States have slightly higher rates of obesity than men, with 33.5 percent of women obese in 2023, compared to 32.1 percent of men. The states with the highest obesity rates are West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas. In 2023, an astounding 41 percent of adults in West Virginia were obese. Unhealthy eating behaviors and a lack of physical exercise are the main drivers of obesity.

As of 2016, the most overweight countries worldwide included Nauru, Palau, and the Cook Islands. As of that time, around 70 percent of the adult population in the United States was either overweight or obese. This statistic shows the countries with the highest share of the population that is overweight or obese as of 2016.

In 2022, over ** percent of both men and women in the United States reported themselves as obese (BMI over 30), making it the country with the highest percentage of obese adults on this list. Other selected countries on the list with a high prevalence of obesity among adults included the United Kingdom and Australia. Obesity groups in the United States In 2023, Black adults had the highest overweight and obesity rates of any race or ethnicity in the United States. Asians and Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders had the lowest rates by far, with roughly ** percent. In 2022, almost ** percent of people aged 65 and older were obese in the United States. This estimate has been steadily increasing since 2013 when roughly ** percent of elderly Americans were obese. Leading health problems worldwide Obesity was considered one of 2024’s biggest health problems: ** percent of adults worldwide stated that obesity was the biggest health issue for people within their country. Around ** percent of adults stated that mental health was the most significant problem facing their country that year.

As of 2024, approximately ** percent of men and ** percent of women in Romania considered themselves overweight or obese. Across the European countries featured, being overweight or obese was more prevalent among males.

West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas are the U.S. states with the highest percentage of their population who are obese. The states with the lowest percentage of their population who are obese include Colorado, Hawaii, and Massachusetts. Obesity in the United States Obesity is a growing problem in many countries around the world, but the United States has the highest rate of obesity among all OECD countries. The prevalence of obesity in the United States has risen steadily over the previous two decades, with no signs of declining. Obesity in the U.S. is more common among women than men, and overweight and obesity rates are higher among African Americans than any other race or ethnicity. Causes and health impacts Obesity is most commonly the result of a combination of poor diet, overeating, physical inactivity, and a genetic susceptibility. Obesity is associated with various negative health impacts, including an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, certain types of cancer, and diabetes type 2. As of 2022, around 8.4 percent of the U.S. population had been diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes is currently the eighth leading cause of death in the United States.

By 2025, the prevalence of obese men in Hungary was projected to be at ** percent, this would be the highest obesity prevalence in men across all countries in the EU and the United Kingdom. Malta with **** percent was forecast to have the second highest prevalence of obese men in Europe, followed by the United Kingdom at **** percent.

In 2022, around 39 percent of men and 29 percent of women in the United States self-reported that they were overweight. This statistic shows the percentage of adults in select countries worldwide that self-reported they were overweight as of 2022, or the latest year for which data was available.

This statistic depicts the distribution of people who are overweight and/or obese in Latin America as of *********, by country. As of *********, ** percent of Mexico's population was overweight or obese.

As of 2016, the most obese countries worldwide included Nauru, the Cook Islands, and Palau. As of this time, around 61 percent of the adult population of Nauru was obese. This statistic shows the countries with the highest share of the adult population who are obese worldwide as of 2016.

In 2021, around 16 percent of deaths in Bahrain were attributed to obesity, while around nine percent of deaths in the United States were attributed to obesity. This statistic shows the percentage of deaths in select countries worldwide that were attributed to obesity in 2021.

In Mississippi, over ***** out of ten adults were reported to be either overweight or obese in 2018, making it the leading U.S. state that year. Other prominent states, in terms of overweight and obesity, included Arkansas in ******, Oklahoma in *******, and Louisiana in ***** place.

Corpulence per state

When it comes to obesity, specifically, percentages were still very high for certain states. Almost forty percent of West Virginia’s population was obese in 2018. Colorado, Hawaii, and California were some of the healthier states that year, with obesity rates between ** and ** percent. The average for the country itself stood at just over ** percent.

Obesity-related health problems

Being obese can lead to various health-related complications, such as diabetes and diseases of the heart. In 2017, almost ** people per 100,000 died of diabetes mellitus in the United States. In the same year, roughly *** per 100,000 Americans died of heart disease. While the number of deaths caused by heart disease has decreased significantly over the past sixty to seventy years, it is still one of the leading causes of death in the country.

As of 2022, over ** percent of men and ** percent of women in Greece considered themselves as overweight. Furthermore, approximately ** percent of men and ** percent of women in Czechia were classed as overweight. Across Europe, levels of overweight were higher among men compared to women.

Malaysia tipped the ASEAN scale as having the highest share of the population being classified as obese in 2019, with over ** percent of its population classed as obese. Contrastingly, just over *** percent of Vietnam’s population was considered obese in 2019. Obesity in APAC The Asia Pacific region has the highest number of overweight and obese people in the world. Additionally, Australia and New Zealand had the highest share of overweight children globally. Diets across the region are rapidly changing as new food trends emerge. The development of economies across the region has made food more affordable and the transition from agriculture to industrialization has made employment for many citizens less physically demanding. These factors can be seen as having contributed to the rise of obesity across the region. Poor diets However, as the obesity rate increases, the levels of food insecurity across the Asia Pacific region have also risen. Food insecurity in South Asia has notably risen steadily since 2015. Malnutrition and undernourishment continue to be problems for the region, with many of its citizens not consuming enough essential vitamins and minerals in their diets. Furthermore, a low share of children in South and East Asia were eating from the minimum number of food groups in 2019.

Between 2020 and 2035, the projected overweight and obese adult population (or adults with high body mass index, BMI) in Afghanistan was estimated to grow at an annual growth rate of *** percent, the highest in the Asia-Pacific region. In contrast, Japan's number of overweight and obese adults was projected to grow at an annual growth rate of less than *** percent.

Approximately *** percent of adolescents (10-19 years old) worldwide were obese in the year 2016, up from *** percent in 2000. The statistic illustrates the percentage of people worldwide who were overweight and obese in 2000 and 2016, by age.

The prevalence of obesity in the United States has risen gradually over the past decade. As of 2023, around ** percent of the population aged 18 years and older was obese. Obesity is a growing problem in many parts of the world, but is particularly troubling in the United States. Obesity in the United States The states with the highest prevalence of obesity are West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas. As of 2023, a shocking ** percent of the population in West Virginia were obese. The percentage of adults aged 65 years and older who are obese has grown in recent years, compounding health issues that develop with age. Health impacts of obesity Obesity is linked to several negative health impacts including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Unsurprisingly, the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes has increased in the United States over the years. As of 2022, around *** percent of the population had been diagnosed with diabetes. Some of the most common types of cancers caused by obesity include breast cancer in postmenopausal women, colon and rectum cancer, and corpus and uterus cancer.

The prevalence of obesity in Latin America and the Caribbean is forecast to reach significant levels by 2035, with several countries attaining a prevalence of at least ** percent among adults. In the Dominican Republic and Haiti, over half of the population could be affected. Even in countries with lower rates, at least a third of adults are expected to struggle with the condition.
Obesity and its impact on health
Obesity is associated with a range of diseases and medical conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. In Brazil alone, an estimated ** million people have been diagnosed with diabetes, resulting in yearly health expenses surpassing ** billion U.S. dollars. If not treated, diabetes can result in additional health complications such as eye problems and cardiovascular conditions. Keeping a healthy diet Among other genetic, environmental, and socioeconomic causes, obesity is known to be strongly influenced by what people eat. In Latin America, the cost of a healthy diet has been constantly increasing in recent years, risking higher prevalence rates of the disease. Availability of unhealthy foods and a lack of time for preparing meals also discourage people from maintaining a healthy diet, resulting in the consumption of indulgent foods, snacks, and highly caloric beverages.

By 2030, Malta, Hungary, and the United Kingdom were projected to have the highest prevalence of obesity in their populations among men in Europe. Across the whole of Europe, approximately ** percent of men were forecast to be classified as obese in 2030.

In 2023, Black adults had the highest obesity rates of any race or ethnicity in the United States, followed by American Indians/Alaska Natives and Hispanics. As of that time, around ** percent of all Black adults were obese. Asians/Pacific Islanders had by far the lowest obesity rates. Obesity in the United States Obesity is a present and growing problem in the United States. An astonishing ** percent of the adult population in the U.S. is now considered obese. Obesity rates can vary substantially by state, with around ** percent of the adult population in West Virginia reportedly obese, compared to ** percent of adults in Colorado. The states with the highest rates of obesity include West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Diabetes Being overweight and obese can lead to a number of health problems, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Being overweight or obese is one of the most common causes of type 2 diabetes, a condition in which the body does not use insulin properly, causing blood sugar levels to rise. It is estimated that just over ***** percent of adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes is now the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for ***** percent of all deaths.