An increase in prevalence has been noted in Germany for a number of decades. In 1999, still only a half to one third of the population had a recommended BMI of up to 24.9. Studies carried out in 1998 and 1999 showed that between 18.3% and 24.5% of Germans with a BMI greater or equal to 30 were obese and between 31.1% and 48.7% with a BMI of between 25 and 29.9 were moderately overweight. The Federal Statistics Office advised in 2004 that in 2003 49% of Germans over the age of 18 were overweight; one percentage point more than in 1999 [Gohlke 2005].