Share of the population classed as overweight in the Netherlands in 2023

In 2023, over 35 percent of adults in the Netherlands were classed as overweight, meaning they had a body mass index (BMI)of between 25 and 30. Furthermore, just under 16 percent of adults were obese, which is defined as having a BMI greater than 30. 

Trend shows an increase in obesity

In 2001, less than ten percent of the Dutch population was classed as obese. Meaning that in 20 years, the proportion of obese adults in the Netherlands has increased by around five percent. The share of the overweight population in the Netherlands has not changed much since 2001, although this is mainly due to parts of the population having increased their BMI, from between 25 and 30, to greater than 30.

Future trends need action

According to the World Obesity Federation, the Netherlands has very little chance of meeting the 2025 target set by the UN to halt the rise in obesity. All member states had agreed to attempt to halt the prevalence of obesity in their countries at 2010 levels. As of 2020, the Netherlands were given a two percent chance of meeting the targets among women and a zero percent of chance of meeting them among men. A poor outlook that is common around the EU since every member state was given a rating that ranks as a ‘very poor chance’ of meeting the obesity targets.