SOFIA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria ranks fifth in Europe for childhood obesity and sixth for adult obesity, costing the country about 9.2 billion euros (10.79 billion U.S. dollars), or 9.4 percent of GDP, in 2024, according to a report released on Monday.

At a press conference launching the national report, experts urged actions to curb obesity in the country. "Obesity is no longer an individual problem, but a societal challenge with serious medical, social and economic consequences," said Gergana Passy, chairwoman of the Obesity Coalition, one of the organizers of the event.

Tsvetalina Tankova, head of the Department of Endocrinology at the Medical University of Sofia, said that obesity was a chronic disease that opened the door to over 200 other diseases, and it was high time that measures be taken.

A survey conducted last year by the Trend Research Center showed that about 40 percent of Bulgarians had a body mass index above the healthy norm.

Unhealthy lifestyles, such as poor diet and lack of physical activities, are the main drivers of obesity, and treatment remains complicated, according to Teodora Handjieva-Darlenska, president of the Bulgarian Association for Study of Obesity and Related Diseases.

Arkadi Sharkov, healthcare economics consultant, said the consequences of obesity went beyond individual health and affected society and the economy.

The treatment of obesity-related diseases is placing significant pressure on the healthcare system, Sharkov said. The direct healthcare costs linked to obesity in Bulgaria amount to 264 million BGN (158 million dollars).