Are you aware of the fact that over half of the adults in Europe are overweight and millions of them are obese? Even though the number of obese and overweight men is higher, there’s no drastic difference between genders. But, these rates that we are talking about are not even across Europe, and there are counties that are significantly fatter compared to others.
There are thousands of deaths attributed to obesity in Europe every year. Numerous studies have shown that a bad rating on the Body Mass Index (BMI) means proneness to a variety of health issues. By learning more about the fattest countries in Europe, one might learn what contributes to the emergence of more obese people in Europe and how to stop this unwanted phenomenon in the future.
- Check the basic facts about the European countries with the highest percentage of obese individuals
- Learn more about the measures that the governments of these countries are taking
- Find out what makes men and women in Europe fat
The countries found on our list belong to different parts of Europe. Our goal is to highlight the fact that people are getting obese due to different reasons despite the huge difference in the culture and history of the countries where they live. Here’s a list of 8 fattest countries in Europe.
1. The Czech Republic
Location: Central Europe
Population: 10.6 million
Human Development Index: High
Percentage of obese adults: 26%
Life expectancy: 78.33 years
If you take a close look at the numbers, you will find things that don’t make much sense. Namely, the life expectancy in the Czech Republic is one of the highest in the world – over 78 years – and the Human Development Index is excellent. Yet, this country situated in Central Europe is among the fattest countries in the world too with 26% of the population begin obese.
What makes the situation worse is that the number of obese children has doubled in the past decade. There’s no specific reason why people in this country are getting fatter. Doctors say that lack of physical activity, improper diet, and free-time non-physical activities are taking their toll on the population.
- The Czech Republic is among the fattest countries in Europe for a few years now
- There’s a growing number of obese and overweight children there
- Lack of physical activity is the number one factor that contributes to this unwanted situation
2. Ireland
Continent: North-western Europe
Population: 4.9 million
Human Development Index: Very high
Percentage of obese adults: 25.3%
Life expectancy: 81.6 years
The people of the Emerald Isle are lucky to live in a country where Mother Nature has showcased its beauty. Yet, it seems that the men and women of this country are not using this opportunity to get outside and exercise more often. Namely, more than a quarter of the population is obese making it one of the fattest countries in Europe. What’s interesting is that significantly more men are obese compared to women which is rare today.
The government urges its citizens to change their lifestyle choices by introducing more exercise and a better diet. Of course, this is not something that people can do overnight and it might take time for the Irish people to become slim again (at least the vast majority of them). It’s also worth mentioning that there are many so-called weight loss support groups across the country and they have started making a difference.
- The Republic of Ireland was once a country where food supplies were scarce
- Today, the number of obese individuals is increasing at an alarming rate
- Around 70% of obese people in Ireland are men
3. Spain
Continent: South-west Europe
Population: 46.7 million
Human Development Index: Very high
Percentage of obese adults: 23. 8%
Life expectancy: 82.83 years
One of the biggest countries in Europe is also one of the fattest countries you can find there. Spain is a very popular holiday destination visited by millions of people every year. They enjoy the local cuisine and the beautiful beaches found there. The specific nature and climate of this country are good for those who like outdoor activities, but it seems that a small number of Spanish people are using this opportunity.
In the last three decades, the number of obese men and women in Spain has doubled. There’s a minor difference related to the gender of those who are obese, but what’s alarming is that many children are struggling with their weight too. Around 15% of adults in this country said that they don’t do any form of physical exercise which is probably one of the main reasons why obesity thrives here.
- Spain’s obese population has doubled in the last thirty years
- People lack physical activity even though there are great conditions for outdoor activities in this country
- The situation is bad when it comes to children too
4. The UK
Continent: Europe
Population: 67.5 million
Human Development Index: Very high
Percentage of obese adults: 28.1%
Life expectancy: 80.1 years
The United Kingdom is also on our list of fattest countries in Europe. As a matter of fact, according to many surveys, the UK might be the fattest country in this part of the world. Over 28% of men and women here have a rating that’s over 30 according to the BMI. This means that they are obese. The latest predictions have shown that around 33% of the population of the UK can become obese by the end of 2020.
Obesity is not just a matter of bad appearance. Obese people in the UK are dealing with diabetes, cancer and heart disease as a result of those extra pounds on their bodies. There’s more than one reason why the UK has to deal with this problem – lack of exercise, improper food intake, consumption of sugary products, saturated fats, trans fats, etc. The healthcare workers, government and nutritionists are advising the public to pay more attention to the lifestyle they are practicing. We should also mention that more than 15% of individuals under 18 are obese too.
- The United Kingdom is the fattest country in Europe
- The public is trying to deal with this issue in many different ways
- If this trend doesn’t stop, over 33% of the people in the UK will be obese by the end of the year 2020
5. Lithuania
Continent: North-eastern Europe
Population: 2.8 million
Human Development Index: Very high
Percentage of obese adults: 26.3%
Life expectancy: 74.32 years
As we have already mentioned, obesity is a problem that is present across Europe. Lithuania, a former Soviet country located in North-eastern Europe, is a good example of that. From a country where obesity was not a serious problem in the 1980s, it became one of the fattest countries in Europe. The only positive thing in the moment is that this global phenomenon has not affected the life expectancy which seems to be growing.
In order to prevent further growth of obesity in the country, the government has taken a series of measures. For instance, there many salt reduction initiatives, special trans fatty acids policies, regulation of food and beverage ads and more. Of course, we can expect significant progress only if people follow these recommendations and acknowledge the fact that their health comes first.
- Lithuania is a former Soviet country where obesity was not a problem back in the days
- There’s a rapid growth of obese individuals here in the last ten years
- There are many factors that contribute to the increasing obesity rate in Lithuania
6. Hungary
Continent: Central Europe
Population: 9.7 million
Human Development Index: Very high
Percentage of obese adults: 26.4 %
Life expectancy: 75.57 years
Obviously, being a member of the European Union means nothing when it comes to obesity. People can become obese is both rich and not that rich countries. Even though Hungary has witnessed good economic progress in the last few years, this progress has not affected the negative trend of an increasing number of obese individuals throughout the country.
According to some stats, over 70% of men and almost 65% of women in Hungary were obese or overweight. That’s why Hungary is one of the fattest countries in Europe. In addition, around 30% of the population over 15 is obese. The latest reports have suggested that obesity over 40 can shorten life expectancy with up to 7 years. Consumption of healthy food and more exercise can have a serious impact on this problem.
- More than 30% of people over 15 in Hungary are obese
- This percentage was way lower just 30 years ago
- More men are obese compared to women
7. Bulgaria
Continent: South-eastern Europe
Population: 7 million
Human Development Index: Very high
Percentage of obese adults: 25%
Life expectancy: 74.61 years
Bulgaria is a country in Southeast Europe that has been dealing with a high mortality rate for the past 30 years. But, is this wasn’t enough, they are now among the fattest countries in Europe too. As we are all aware, obese men and women are at higher risk of death and the emergence of a wide range of diseases.
We should also mention that Bulgaria’s children are among the five fattest in Europe. Authorities and experts are suggesting different measures to tackle this issue. For instance, they are trying to add more sports and better school meals at schools. In addition, they are urging expecting mothers to prevent adding more pounds than necessary, a practice followed by many expecting mothers in this country.
- Bulgaria has a very high mortality rate
- This is also one of the fattest countries in Europe
- Many children in Bulgaria are dealing with obesity (around 15%)
8. Greece
Continent: Southern Europe
Population: 10.7 million
Human Development Index: High
Percentage of obese adults: 24.9%
Life expectancy: 81.04 years
Many people know Greece as a country where they can spend a nice summer holiday. This country located in southern Europe has access to three seas and is blessed with many beautiful islands. For many years, people who lived there have practiced a classic Mediterranean diet and that’s why the life expectancy rates were so high.
However, the process of globalization has affected that. More and more people in Greece, both young and old, are focusing on fast foods. On top of that, they are reducing the number of hours and minutes spent on physical activities. A sedentary life has led to an increased number of obese individuals. Cardiovascular disease and diabetes are following this trend too. By changing their diets, which shouldn’t be difficult since Greece has access to healthy ingredients, and exercising more, people should be able to overcome this problem.
- For centuries, Greeks have practiced a Mediterranean diet that worked quite well for them
- In the last three decades, more and more people are turning to processed and fast foods
- The problem is especially serious when it comes to the younger population