Overweight and obesity among adults in Germany

Abstract

Body weight and height, as well as associated indicators like overweight and obesity, are widespread factors used to describe the health of a population. Over the past decades, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased worldwide and has reached significant public health relevance. According to self-reported data on body weight and body height in the GEDA 2014/2015-EHIS study, 54.0% of adults in Germany are overweight or obese (defined as having a body mass index – BMI – of 25 kg/m2 or higher). Men are more often affected by overweight than women, with 43.3% of men having a BMI between 25 kg/m2 and 30 kg/m2, compared to women (28.8%). In Germany, the prevalence of obesity (BMI greater or equal to 30 kg/m2) is 18.1%; there is no significant difference between women and men. The prevalence of overweight, including obesity, is higher among women and men with increasing age. Although the prevalence of overweight, including obesity, has remained at a high level in recent years, the prevalence of obesity has increased compared to the GEDA 2010 study.