Every second resident of Latvia thinks about losing weight, according to the survey results.
For every second surveyed resident of Latvia this year, the topic of weight loss was relevant, and every third faced intolerance or prejudice due to extra pounds, as revealed in a survey by the research agency Norstat on the risk factors for obesity and diabetes.
Over the past year, nearly half of the residents — 47% — attempted to lose weight, and one in five was unsuccessful. Intolerance or biased attitudes due to excess weight were encountered by 37% of the population, with women and young people under 30 reporting this most frequently.
It turned out that for young people, the main reasons for fighting excess pounds were "improving appearance and self-esteem," rather than health issues — this was the response of 85% of respondents. A similar trend was observed among women — confirmed by 77%.
In turn, among people over 60, motivation was more often related to health — 63% tried to lose weight to feel better: improve sleep quality, reduce fatigue, joint pain, and shortness of breath. Another 43% cited elevated health indicators — blood pressure, glucose, or cholesterol levels — as the reason.
The majority of survey participants — 75% — recognize obesity as a disease. Excess weight, a sedentary lifestyle, and excessive consumption of sweets and sugary drinks are considered by residents to be the most common risk factors for developing diabetes. Half of the respondents do not know their body mass index, and another 11% do not know what this indicator is.
The survey also explored residents' opinions on obstacles to weight loss — 66% believe that the lack of motivation is most often to blame, with 81% of young people responding this way.
More than a third noted that they lack the knowledge to achieve results, and health conditions, such as hormonal disorders, can also be an obstacle.
22% of respondents reported unsuccessful experiences in attempts to lose weight.
The survey of residents was conducted in October 2025 by the research agency Norstat, with 1004 people aged 18 to 74 participating.
