A new study across eight countries in Europe shows that elevated body mass index (BMI) is linked to major health and economic costs each year. 

With 56% of people in Europe being overweight or living with obesity (1) (2024) - including a third of all children - the health and financial impact of these conditions on European countries is starkly laid out in a new report published today. The Economic Burden of Overweight and Obesity in Europe  by the Office for Health Economics (OHE) commissioned by EFPIA, quantifies the health and economic burden associated with overweight and obesity across eight European countries - Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Greece, Romania and the United Kingdom.  

The data shows that the impact of elevated BMI goes far beyond the health sector highlighting the need for a cross-governmental and broader societal response to obesity and associated diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Between 18% and 58% of total costs in the study countries were due to productivity losses from premature mortality and economic inactivity, absenteeism, presenteeism, and lost time due to caregiving. 

Direct health costs are driven by the impact of obesity and elevated BMI on other non-communicable diseases. For example, elevated BMI is linked to:  

• Nearly 60% of health losses (DALYs) caused by type 2 diabetes 

• 45% of health losses caused by digestive disease 

• 32% of health losses caused by chronic kidney disease 

The study also shows that annual costs from elevated BMI range from 0.6% to 1.4% of GDP across eight study countries – and suggests these could be avoided if diseases were prevented, detected and managed earlier and better.  

Country specific figures show: 

Germany has the largest total annual burden, at €55.2 billion. The United Kingdom follows at €43.2 billion, while France, Italy and Spain each face annual costs of around €20 billion. Even in smaller economies such as Romania, the annual burden remains considerable at €2.5 billion. In terms of indirect costs, the UK had the largest productivity losses at €25.1 billion, closely followed by Germany at €24.9 billion.  

The scale of the burden is comparable to major areas of public spending. In several of the countries analysed, costs associated with elevated BMI equal or exceed government expenditure on housing or defence. 

Recommendations 

The findings come at an important moment as Europe is currently implementing the EU Safe Hearts Plan and underscore the importance of recognising and addressing the close interconnections between obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease as part of the Plan. 

The report calls for formal recognition, prevention and treatment as a chronic disease, concerted action to reduce systemic stigma and biases, and consistent incorporation of economic impacts in intervention and policy appraisal. It makes five recommendations to address the economic burden of obesity and elevated BMI: 

• Recognise obesity as a disease: Formal recognition of obesity as a chronic, relapsing disease would strengthen surveillance, funding and access to appropriate care pathways. 

• Address obesity-related stigma: Strengthen disease recognition and inclusive policies to reduce weight-based stigma and shift the focus from individual responsibility towards effective, systemic approaches. 

• Improve access to prevention and treatment: Establish integrated, lifelong care pathways combining early detection with behavioural, pharmacological and metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) interventions. 

• Build the evidence for investment: Generate evidence on the wider economic and societal benefits of obesity interventions, including productivity, workforce participation and reduced welfare costs, to support cross-sectoral investment. 

• Integrate obesity into the EU Safe Hearts Plan implementation: Set specific targets for obesity detection and management, including through health checks, to support the Plan’s goal of reducing premature CVD mortality by 2035. 

Nathalie Moll, Director General, EFPIA, said: “Tackling obesity is vital for protecting citizens' health and wellbeing, safeguarding our European health systems and ensuring sustainable growth in Europe. An urgent shift in perception, prevention, diagnosis and treatment is required to improve outcomes, reduce the burden of costs on health services, boost economic productivity and societal resilience.” 

Richard Torbett, Chief Executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), said: “Excess weight and obesity cost the UK £33.8 billion a year, equivalent to 1.4 per cent of GDP. Most of that, £19.6 billion, never appears on an NHS balance sheet. It is lost to the economy through people who are too unwell to stay in work.  

The government has committed to raise investment in innovative medicines to 0.6 per cent of GDP over the next decade, and this report shows just one example of why this investment is so important. Investing more in new effective preventative medicines can deliver better health for patients, a health service not overwhelmed by preventable disease, and a workforce well enough to work and support economic growth." 

Download the report here.

References:

(1) https://www.ohe.org/publications/economic-burden-of-overweight-and-obesity-in-europe/