Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

About 40% of Bulgarians are overweight

Photo: BTA

A total of 36% of Bulgarians suffer from obesity of the first degree and about 40% have a body mass index (BMI) above the healthy one. According to data from a nationally representative sociological survey of the Trend Research Center, 49% of Bulgarians have been overweight for more than five years and 12% - for more than 20 years, BTA reports. The survey was conducted in the period 7 to 19th of February 2024 through a face-to-face interview among 600 people above the age of 18.

The purpose of the study is to track to what extent obesity affects public life and the economic sphere in the country. The accompanying diseases are diverse - high blood pressure in 46%, high cholesterol in 23%. A total of 21% complain of joint problems, 14% have high blood sugar, and 11% have sleep apnea. Weight problems also affect the household economy - 5% of Bulgarians were absent from work due to a weight-related health problem. Treating obesity-related diseases is expensive because it is associated with the most common chronic diseases as well as the most common causes of death.




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Only 10% of Bulgarians abroad think their children should know their native language

Fewer and fewer Bulgarians living abroad send their children to Sunday schools where Bulgarian language and culture are taught, said Veneta Nenkova, founder of the Bulgarian school ''Asen and Iliya Peykovi'' in Rome, in an interview with the BNR’s..

published on 7/3/25 1:28 PM

MPs discuss vote of no confidence against the cabinet

Bulgarian MPs are discussing a third vote of no confidence in the government of Rosen Zhelyazkov, BTA reports. According to the initiators from Vazrazhdane, the cabinet has failed in its financial policy. “The cabinet is..

published on 7/3/25 11:25 AM

The National Assembly accepts the resignation of Kiril Petkov

With a majority of 197 votes and eight “abstentions”, the MPs accepted the resignation of the former co-chairman of “We Continue the Change” Kiril Petkov as an MP. He took political responsibility for the corruption scandal in..

published on 7/3/25 10:31 AM