VILNIUS, Dec. 28 -- Lithuania ranks fifth in Europe for overweight individuals aged 16 and above, according to a recent Eurostat poll, prompting experts to call it a "new epidemic," local radio broadcaster LRT reported Saturday.

Only Latvia, Finland, Romania, and Malta surpass Lithuania in the report, while Italy has the lowest rate of overweight people.

Professor Rimantas Stukas of Vilnius University attributes the issue to poor diets and low physical activity. "Lithuanians favor fatty foods. They do not consume enough vegetables and products rich in dietary fibre. Low levels of physical activity also contribute to being overweight," he told LRT.

Dietitian Edvardas Grisinas highlighted cultural factors. He said Lithuanians eat a lot of semi-finished products, like frozen and canned foods, as they "are not picky about food quality." Pointing to Italy and France, he said strong culinary traditions there focus on quality contribute to lower obesity rates.

Grisinas also stressed economic factors. "Higher-quality food often costs more and not everyone can afford to eat this way. Some people don't think about quality food, but about how to eat more cheaply," he said to LRT.

Stukas warned of health risks tied to obesity, including cardiovascular disease, reproductive issues, and autoimmune disorders. Over 50 percent of Lithuanians suffer and die from cardiovascular diseases, many of which could be prevented by addressing obesity, he said.

  - Xinhua