Overweight Swiss Schoolchildren: Primary School Progress, but Other Levels Stagnate
Gesundheitsförderung Schweiz has published the latest figures on the number of overweight elementary school students in Switzerland. The data, collected since 2010, reveals a decrease in overweight primary school children, but stagnation and fluctuations at other levels. Regional disparities and socio-economic factors also play a role.
Overweight primary school children in Switzerland have seen a significant reduction, from 15.8% in 2010 to 11.1% in 2025. However, at upper secondary level, the proportion has remained steady at 20.9% since 2010. Middle school children saw a decline to 16.5% in 2017 but has since risen to 18.6% in 2025.
Regional differences are notable, with up to six percentage points variation at primary school and over eight points at upper school level. Socio-economic factors also impact weight issues. Children of parents without post-compulsory education are over three times as likely to be overweight. Additionally, non-Swiss passport holders have a higher overweight proportion, at 24% compared to 14.2% among Swiss peers.
Overall, there has been a decrease of 1.3 percentage points in overweight schoolchildren since 2010. While primary school children show improvement, other levels require targeted interventions. Addressing socio-economic disparities and regional differences can help tackle childhood obesity more effectively.
