Obesity in Germany has been increasingly cited as a major health issue in recent years. The federal government has declared this to be a major issue. Data released by the World Health Organisation in 2014 showed that while an issue of growing concern, within the European Union, Germany had incidence of overweight and obese adults as a percentage of the total population at 54.8% as in comparison with France at 60.7%, Spain at 60.9% or the United Kingdom at 63.4%. History Prior to 2007 In 1998, 19 percent of men and 22.5 percent of women met the definition of obesity. Childhood obesity doubled between 1985 and 1999. Childhood obesity is at about 1.9 million children in Germany; of which 800.000 are considered truly obese. 2007 – 2010 A 2007 study shows Germany had the highest number of overweight people in Europe. However, the United Kingdom, Greece and certain countries in Eastern Europe have a higher rate of "truly obese" people. In 2007, The German obesity rate was considered at the same level as with the American obesity rate. In Germany, 60% of men and 43% of women are considered overweight while in France, 38.5% of men and 26% of women are considered overweight. Germans are considered thinner than people in the United Kingdom. The waist of female Germans between the ages of 14 and 70 grew by 4.1 centimetres between 1994 and 2009. The belly girth of men between 16 and 70 grew by 4.4 centimetres between 1980 and 2009. 2011 – Present The number of overweight people in Germany has stagnated between 1998 and December 2011. 67.1% of all men between 18 and 79 are considered overweight with a BMI of 25 or greater. Childhood obesity Italy has surpassed Germany for having the fattest children in Europe. A survey in 2007 had Germany listed as the country with "the highest proportion of overweight children in Europe." However, despite dropping in the rankings, the number of truly obese children have doubled in the past decade. Around 4% of 5 to 7 year-olds and 8% of 10 to 14 year-olds are obese in Germany. Healthy lifestyle Only 14% live a "completely healthy" life. Almost a quarter of German adults meet the definition of obesity. Both men and women are around 23%. State-by-state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern go on foot or by bicycle to get where they need to more often than any other state.