Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report
Published on: May 30, 2025
Obesity prevalence from a European perspective: a systematic review
Anne Berghöfer1, Tobias Pischon, Thomas Reinhold
1Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité University Medical Center, Berlin, Germany. anne.berghoefer@charite.de
Background:
Obesity has been recognised as an important contributing factor in the development of various diseases, but comparative data on this condition are limited. We therefore aimed to identify and discuss current epidemiological data on the prevalence of obesity in European countries.
Methods:
We identified relevant published studies by means of a MEDLINE search (1990-2008) supplemented by information obtained from regulatory agencies. We only included surveys that used direct measures of weight and height and were representative of each country's overall population.
Results:
In Europe, the prevalence of obesity (body mass index > or = 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.
Conclusion:
In Europe, obesity has reached epidemic proportions. The data presented in our review emphasise the need for effective therapeutic and preventive strategies.
Related Concept Videos
Obesity
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Metabolism and Excretion
Drug Dosing: Obese Patients
Bias in Epidemiological Studies
Prevalence and Incidence
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health condition at a...
