Conor Stewart
Research expert covering health & pharmaceuticals in the UK & Europe
Get in touch with us nowEvolution of the average BMI in Belgium from 1997-2018
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is an index that evaluates the bodyweight of an adult. In Belgium, according to the results of this study (who have been weighted to represent the entire population), the BMI was steadily increasing from 1997 to 2018. For instance, the BMI of the Belgian population was 24.8 in 1997, whereas the BMI reached 25.5 in 2018. According to the classifications from the World Health Organization, a BMI ranging from 25 to 29.9 falls into the "pre-obesity" group. In other words, the average BMI in Belgium was over the recommendations in 2018 and has been since 2004.
Like any other measure, BMI is not a flawless indicator, especially because it only takes into consideration the weight and height and does not reflect the level of adiposity based on the exact age, physical activity, and gender. Nonetheless, a high BMI is correlated to various health conditions such as premature death, cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, cancers, and diabetes.
Like any other measure, BMI is not a flawless indicator, especially because it only takes into consideration the weight and height and does not reflect the level of adiposity based on the exact age, physical activity, and gender. Nonetheless, a high BMI is correlated to various health conditions such as premature death, cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, cancers, and diabetes.
