New Eurostat figures show that adult obesity in Cyprus increased by 1.7 percentage points between 2022 and 2025, while the proportion classified as pre-obese also rose. Men recorded notably higher obesity rates than women.
Obesity and pre-obesity rates increase
The proportion of people aged 18 and over in Cyprus classified as obese reached 15.5% in 2025, up from 13.8% in 2022, according to figures published by Eurostat on Friday.
A further 36.4% of the adult population was classified as pre-obese, meaning they had a body mass index between 25 and 30. This was up from 34.6% in 2022.
Combined, the two figures show that more than half of adults in Cyprus fell within the obesity or pre-obesity categories in 2025.
Higher rates among men
A significant difference was recorded between men and women in Cyprus. The obesity rate among men stood at 18.5%, compared with 12.7% among women.
More than half of EU adults overweight
Across the European Union, 16.3% of people aged 18 and over were obese in 2025, meaning they had a body mass index of 30 or higher.
A further 35.4% were classified as pre-obese, with a body mass index between 25 and 30. As a result, more than half of adults across the EU were overweight, falling into either the obesity or pre-obesity category.
Men also recorded higher rates than women across the bloc. Obesity affected 17.4% of men and 15.3% of women, while 41.9% of men were pre-obese, compared with 29.3% of women.
Women, however, were more likely to be underweight, with the rate standing at 2.9%, compared with 1% among men.
Malta records the EU’s highest rate
Among EU member states, Malta recorded the highest obesity rate at 26.6%, followed by Latvia at 24.6% and Finland at 23.2%.
The lowest rates were reported in Italy at 7%, Greece at 12.8% and Romania at 12.9%.
Source: CNA
