Malta has emerged as the country with the highest proportion of overweight and obese children in the European Union, according to new data published for 2022.

The figures show that 28.7% of 11-year-olds in Malta were classified as overweight or obese, significantly above the EU average of 18.3%. The gender breakdown reveals that 31.1% of boys and 26.7% of girls in Malta fell into this category, placing the country at the top of the EU ranking. Romania followed with 23.8%, while the Netherlands recorded the lowest rate at just 10.4%.

The worrying trend continues across older age groups. Among 13-year-olds, Malta again recorded the highest rate at 26.9%, and this increased to 29.6% among 15-year-olds—both figures well above the EU averages of 18.6% and 18.9%, respectively.

Malta also ranked among the highest for childhood obesity across all socio-economic backgrounds. Among children from low-income families, over 30% in Malta were classified as overweight or obese. Even among those from high-income households, the country remained in the top three, alongside Greece and Romania, with rates of around 20%—well above the EU average of 14.4%.

By contrast, countries like Denmark, France, and the Netherlands consistently recorded the lowest obesity rates across all age and income groups, often staying below 10%.

Health experts have long warned about the growing public health crisis posed by obesity in Malta, linking it to sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition, and limited physical activity among children. The latest data underscores the urgent need for national strategies to promote healthier habits from a young age and address the socio-economic factors driving this trend.

Experts are calling for coordinated efforts between schools, parents, and health authorities to introduce healthier school meals, daily physical education, and more active lifestyles outside of school hours. There are also growing calls for tighter regulations on junk food marketing aimed at children and greater support for families to make healthier food choices. Unless serious action is taken, obesity-related health problems such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mental health issues are expected to increase in the years to come. With Malta consistently topping EU obesity charts, stakeholders are now under increased pressure to take meaningful action to reverse the tide.