Some 53% of over-65-year-olds have a body mass index judged to be too high (over 25 on the BMI scale), according to the statistics released on Tuesday by the FOPHExternal link.
Older men are more likely than women to be affected: 62% of over-65-year-old males are overweight, while the figure for women of the same age is 46%.
Across all other age groups the figures are lower: among 35-49-year-olds 42% are overweight, while among 15-34-year-olds it is 27%.
Geographically, meanwhile, the most overweight canton (across all ages) is Aargau, at 45.8%, while the trimmest is Zurich, at 38.7%. People with higher education are on average slightly less likely to be overweight or obese than their less-well-educated counterparts.
The FOPH said that such statistics for older people are worrying mainly due to the increased risk of cardio-vascular disease (the most common cause of death in the country), as well as the risk of developing certain forms of cancer and type 2 diabetes.
The authorities said that a balanced diet and adequate exercise are the keys to maintaining a healthy weight throughout one’s lifetime. Walking, cycling, and dancing are all suitable forms of movement for older people, it said.
The statistics come from a developing database monitoring addictions and non-contagious diseases in Switzerland, and the socio-demographic factors that influence such problems.
As a Swiss Abroad, how do you feel about the emergence of more conservative family policies in some US states?
In recent years several US states have adopted more conservative policies on family issues, abortion and education. As a Swiss citizen living there, how do you view this development?
‘Confederation is a subsidy machine’: Swiss finance minister
This content was published on
The Swiss government is a machine for distributing subsidies to various actors in the country, says finance minister Karin Keller-Sutter.
Lack of funds ends third bid to salvage Säntis ship from Swiss lake
This content was published on
A third attempt to salvage the steamship Säntis, lying at the bottom of Lake Constance in Switzerland since 1933, has failed before it has even begun.
Nestlé Waters on trial in France over illegal waste dumps
This content was published on
Bottled water producer Nestlé Waters to stand trial, accused of illegally dumping waste and maintaining unauthorised dumps.
Swiss army chiefs defend botched procurement projects
This content was published on
Swiss defense Minister and military heads defend against parliamentary and media criticisms of problematic procurement projects.
Swiss cheese exports recorded second-best year in 2024
This content was published on
A total 79,268 tons of Swiss cheese worth CHF748.5 million was exported abroad in 2024 - a 7.9% increase in annual sales from the previous year.
This content was published on
Insects benefit from storm devastation, says a 20-year study by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research.
This content was published on
Researchers in Switzerland have found a new cell type in the body’s fat depots which can actively suppress fat cell formation.
This content was published on
In 2015, 107.7 million children (under 20) and 603.7 million adults were obese worldwide, according to a global study on the health effects of obesity, published on June 12 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The overall obesity rate was 5% among children (under 20) and 12% among adults, the researchers found. Among adults,…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.