The Dutch are making strides in quitting smoking and drinking less, but obesity is telling a very different story. According to the latest Leefstijlmonitor from CBS, RIVM, and other health authorities, half of Dutch adults are now considered overweight—and the numbers are still climbing. Obesity climbing, missing national targets More concerning is the rise in severe obesity.
Over the past ten years, the proportion of adults with a BMI over 30 has jumped from 13% to 16%. This puts the country well off track from the Nationaal Preventieakkoord target to cut severe obesity rates to just 7% by 2040. Most Read on Euro Weekly News Euthanasia cases rose 10% in 2024 Sacred drum returns to its Texas home Luxury dining among the tulips Researchers used self-reported height and weight to determine Body Mass Index (BMI) and classify weight levels.
A BMI of 25 or more indicates being overweight, while 30 and above signals obesity. Smoking down, but health inequality widens Smoking, at least, is in decline. Back in 2014, more than one in four adults smoked, but by 2024 that figure dropped to 18%.
University-educated adults saw the biggest drop, with smoking rates now at 13%, compared to 21% among those with only basic schooling. Heavy drinking is also sliding. A decade ago, 10% of Dutch adults drank heavily—defined as more than 21 drinks weekly for men and 14 for women.
In 2024, that figure is down to just 5.5%. Health divide sharper than ever While smoking and drinking are decreasing.
