In Switzerland in 2022 some 43.0% of the population were overweight (30,9%) or obese (12,1%). The corresponding numbers have increased significantly among both men and women since 1992 (when 30.4% of the population were overweight or obese), though the upward trend has levelled off since 2012.
Substantially more men are overweight or obese in Switzerland (2022: 52.3%) than women (33.8%). Differences are also seen between education levels: persons who have completed only compulsory schooling show a far higher tendency to be overweight or obese (60.1%) than those with a university degree or equivalent (38.5%).
This indicator is part of the Monitoring System Addiction and NCD (MonAM) of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).
Overweight and especially obesity (severe overweight) are risk factors for non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer and musculoskeletal diseases. There is also an association with mental health and quality of life. Overweight can be caused by any of a number of factors. A healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and enough exercise is very important; but other factors such as stress, lack of sleep, consumption of medication, hormonal imbalance, microbiomes and a genetic disposition towards overweight or obesity also play a role. Obesity is classified as a chronic disease (WHO, 2024).
This indicator has been calculated on the basis of data from the Swiss Health Survey (SHS, n2022 ≈ 22 000), and is updated every five years. It shows the proportions of 15-year-olds and over living in a private household who are overweight or obese based on their body mass index (BMI). It also shows the distribution of the Swiss population into four weight groups based on their BMI (see below).
A person’s BMI is calculated by dividing their weight (in kilograms) by their height (in metres) squared: BMI = body weight in kg / height in m2. The data shown here are based on the weight and height information provided by the persons interviewed.
To divide people into the four BMI groups, the following standard WHO values for persons aged 18 or over were applied (WHO, 2000):
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