Childhood obesity is a serious public health concern with far-reaching consequences. Overweight or obese children face a higher risk of poor health, an effect that persists into adulthood. Furthermore, obesity in children is often associated with psychosocial issues such as low self-esteem, bullying, and academic underachievement, potentially exacerbating health and economic outcomes in later life (OECD, 2019[1]).
In 2022, over one in five (21%) 15‑years-olds on average across EU countries was classified as either overweight or obese (Figure 4.20). Childhood overweight and obesity rates vary significantly across EU countries, with an over two‑fold difference between the lowest and highest rates, ranging from 14% in the Netherlands to 32% in Malta. Across all countries, the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity is consistently higher among boys than girls. On average in EU countries, 26% of 15‑year‑old boys were considered to be overweight or obese in 2022 compared to 16% of girls of the same age. In Bulgaria, Estonia, Italy and Poland, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among boys is more than twice that of girls.
Since 2010, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased among both boys and girls across EU countries on average. This rise was particularly pronounced among boys between 2018 and 2022. No country showed any significant reduction in the proportion of overweight and obese adolescents between 2018 and 2022 (Rakić et al., 2024[2]).
Socio-economic factors play a significant role in childhood obesity rates. In all EU countries, children from high-affluence families are less likely to be overweight or obese compared to those from poorer families (Figure 4.21). On average across EU countries, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children aged 11, 13 and 15 from low-affluence families is 60% higher than among those from high-affluence families. These socio-economic disparities are particularly pronounced in Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg and Bulgaria, where the prevalence of overweight and obesity is more than twice as high among 15‑year‑olds from low-affluence families compared to those from more affluent backgrounds. However, three out of these four countries also have a lower-than-average overall prevalence of childhood obesity, making the absolute difference due to affluence smaller.
A number of policies to tackle obesity specifically target children. These include restrictions on advertising of food and drinks to children, school-based wellness and educational programmes, reducing the availability of unhealthy food options in schools, and policies to encourage or enable active transport to school (OECD, 2019[1]). Other broader policies, such as warning labels, price interventions, and mass media campaigns, can also contribute to tackling childhood obesity.
To support countries in implementing effective policies to combat childhood obesity, the European Union has facilitated collaboration among stakeholders across European countries to identify best practices. Following the 2014‑20 EU Action Plan on Childhood Obesity, the European Union funded the Science and Technology in childhood Obesity Policy (STOP) project. This initiative brought together 24 academic and other stakeholders from 13 European countries, the United States and New Zealand to generate evidence on the factors contributing to childhood obesity and the effectiveness of various policies. From 2018 to 2020, the STOP project focused on improving data collection across EU countries, developing evidence‑based interventions, and enhancing policy coherence to reduce socio-economic disparities and promote effective solutions (STOP, 2024[3]).
