Bnei Brak Leads Israel in Male Obesity as New Health Report Reveals Troubling Trends

Bnei Brak has the highest rate of obesity among adult men in Israel, according to a comprehensive national health report released Tuesday, which also reveals rising childhood obesity, a growing diabetes epidemic, and increased purchases of antidepressant medications across the country.

The 2025 National Program for Quality Indicators in Community Healthcare report, published by Israel’s National Institute for Health Policy Research, presents a mixed picture of the nation’s health. While smoking rates have continued to decline, obesity and diabetes are becoming increasingly widespread, with significant differences between cities, population groups, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

The report draws on information collected from Israel’s four health maintenance organizations and examines dozens of indicators relating to medical treatment, preventive care, and lifestyle habits. It covers nearly the entire civilian population, excluding soldiers, prisoners, and individuals who were not continuously insured through a health fund for the full year.

Nationwide, 62.8% of men and 57.6% of women between the ages of 20 and 64 were classified as either overweight or obese. Looking specifically at obesity, the rate stood at 24.6% among men and 27.9% among women.

Among women, the highest obesity rates were recorded in the western Negev, at 33.6%, and the eastern Negev, at 32.9%. Tel Aviv and Herzliya recorded considerably lower figures, at 17.3% and 18.1%, respectively.

The findings concerning children were particularly alarming. Among seven-year-olds, the obesity rate increased for the second consecutive year, reaching 8.6%, compared with 8.4% in 2024. That represents the highest figure recorded since national monitoring began in 2014.

Ashkelon had the highest childhood obesity rate in this age group, at 13.1%, followed by the western Galilee at 12.2%. Bnei Brak, however, recorded one of the lowest rates in the country, at just 4.4%, while the rate in Yehuda and Shomron stood at 5.1%.

The figures also revealed substantial differences between population groups. Among Arab children, 10.8% of seven-year-olds were obese, compared with 5.8% among chareidi children.

Among teenagers ages 14 and 15, the overall obesity rate declined slightly but remained elevated at 12.6%. The western Galilee and Ashkelon recorded the highest rates among boys, while Herzliya and Modiin had the lowest.

Among teenage girls, Ashkelon again topped the list, with an obesity rate of 16.1%, followed by Be’er Sheva at 15%. Herzliya recorded 7.9%, and Modiin stood at 8.4%.

The disparity was especially pronounced among Arab teenagers, where approximately 19% were classified as obese, compared with 12% across the general teenage population.

Diabetes was another major concern identified in the report. The number of Israeli adults living with the disease rose to approximately 677,000 in 2025, an increase of roughly 36,000 patients in a single year.

The prevalence of diabetes among adults ages 18 and older climbed to 11%, compared with 10.6% the previous year, marking the fourth consecutive annual increase.

The disease was significantly more common among lower-income Israelis. Among men ages 45 and older in the lowest socioeconomic category, 27.8% had diabetes, compared with 19.1% among men in the highest socioeconomic category.

Geographically, the Nazareth region recorded the highest diabetes prevalence, at 14.7%, while the Tel Aviv area had a considerably lower rate of 8.7%.

There was, however, encouraging news concerning diabetes management. Approximately 79% of patients ages 18 to 84 achieved the report’s measure of blood sugar control in 2025, the highest rate recorded since monitoring began.

At the same time, fewer diabetic patients underwent important preventive examinations intended to identify complications. The percentage receiving foot examinations declined from 66.2% to 63.7%, while the rate of eye examinations dropped from 73.7% to 71.4%.

Smoking rates offered another positive development. The percentage of Israelis ages 16 to 74 who smoke fell to 19.1%, down from 19.4% in 2024 and 21.1% in 2023.