Turkey ranks first in Europe’s obesity rate, according to a United Nations (U.N.) report based on figures pertaining to 53 countries. The study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) says 32.1 percent of the Turkish population is obese.
Malta and the United Kingdom (U.K.) follow Turkey with 28.9 percent and 27.8 percent, respectively, while the average number of obese individuals in Europe is 23.3 percent.
Hungary came fourth with 26.4 percent and Lithuania took the fifth spot with 26.3 percent.
The countries suffering least from obesity turned out to be Tajikistan, which has an obesity rate of 14.2 percent, Uzbekistan (16.6 percent), Kyrgyzstan (17.9 percent), Bosnia (17.9 percent), Turkmenistan (18.6 percent), Moldova (18.9 percent) and Switzerland (19.5 percent).
Obesity is defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or over, and mainly caused by lack of exercise, poor diet or excessive consumption of alcohol.
Obesity increases the risk of developing serious health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, strokes, high cholesterol and high blood sugar.
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