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.