EMT
Platinum Member
- Jan 13, 2010
- 14,483
- 15,308
The UK has more obese women than any other country in Europe, according to European Union figures. Data agency Eurostat, which looked at 19 countries, found nearly a quarter of UK women - 23.9% - were recorded as being obese in the year 2008 to 2009. Just over 22% of UK men were classed as obese, coming second only to Malta.
A person is defined as obese if their body mass index (BMI), which is calculated by dividing body weight by body height squared, is 30 or above. And he or she is classed as overweight if their BMI is between 25 and 30. The BMI correlates fairly well with body fat.
After the UK, the countries with the highest levels of female obesity were Malta, with 21.1%, and Latvia, where 20.9% fulfilled that criteria. Meanwhile, after Malta and the UK, the countries with the highest instances of male obesity were Hungary - where 21.4% fall into that category - and the Czech Republic, where 18.4% are classed as such.
The UK's high levels of obesity are in stark contrast to those in countries such as Romania, where just 8% of women were classed as obese along with 7.6% of men. Obesity levels were also found to be low in Italy, Bulgaria and France. In Italy, 9.3% of women were found to be obese and 11.3% men.
Meanwhile, in Bulgaria levels of obesity for women and men were found to be 11.3% and 11.6%, with levels of France identified as being 12.7% and 11.7% respectively. The figures suggested that the proportion of women who are obese or overweight falls as the educational level rises.
Source: BBC News - UK women are 'fattest in Europe'
.
A person is defined as obese if their body mass index (BMI), which is calculated by dividing body weight by body height squared, is 30 or above. And he or she is classed as overweight if their BMI is between 25 and 30. The BMI correlates fairly well with body fat.
After the UK, the countries with the highest levels of female obesity were Malta, with 21.1%, and Latvia, where 20.9% fulfilled that criteria. Meanwhile, after Malta and the UK, the countries with the highest instances of male obesity were Hungary - where 21.4% fall into that category - and the Czech Republic, where 18.4% are classed as such.
The UK's high levels of obesity are in stark contrast to those in countries such as Romania, where just 8% of women were classed as obese along with 7.6% of men. Obesity levels were also found to be low in Italy, Bulgaria and France. In Italy, 9.3% of women were found to be obese and 11.3% men.
Meanwhile, in Bulgaria levels of obesity for women and men were found to be 11.3% and 11.6%, with levels of France identified as being 12.7% and 11.7% respectively. The figures suggested that the proportion of women who are obese or overweight falls as the educational level rises.
Source: BBC News - UK women are 'fattest in Europe'
.
