The Swiss have more and more problems with their weight. Indeed, according to a new publication from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) published Thursday, 43% of the population was overweight or obese in 2022.
Very worrying: obesity has more than doubled in 30 years. In fact, the proportion of people suffering from obesity has increased from 5% to 12% since 1992. As for overweight people, the proportion increased from 25 to 30% until 2012. But since then, it has been stable with a 31% in 2022.
Weight problems affect men more than women, notes the OFS. Overweight affects 39% of men and 23% of women; As for obesity, it affected both sexes in the same way (13% of men and 11% of women).
Training also plays a role. The higher the level, the more weight problems decrease. Thus, among people who completed compulsory education, 28% suffered from obesity and 40% from overweight. Among people with a tertiary degree, these shares were 9% and 30%.
The older we get, the bigger we get. Some 17% of women and 28% of men aged 15 to 24 were overweight or obese in 2022. In the 35 to 44 age group, more than half of men (53%) were affected, compared to 31% of women. Among those aged 45 to 64, problems increased with age in both sexes. It is among those aged 65 to 74 that we find the most overweight or obesity (66% of men and 43% of women).
Note also that it is in Ticino that we find the fewest obese or overweight people. But the differences are not significant, according to the OFS.
We know: obesity and being overweight are among the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Thus, 40% of obese people suffered from hypertension in 2022, compared to 12% of people of normal weight. . And 15% suffered from diabetes, compared to 2% for those of normal weight. Obesity and being overweight can also contribute to the onset of certain chronic diseases, such as osteoarthritis and asthma. They also increase severe symptoms of depression (13% versus 9%). And also loneliness. Among those aged 15-64, more people suffering from obesity often or very often felt alone (9% compared to 6%).
