A recent survey reveals a concerning decline in the overall health of the German population. The study, conducted by the Deutsche Krankenversicherung AG (DKV), the German Sport University Cologne and the University of Würzburg, found that only 2% of Germans can be classified as living a completely healthy lifestyle.
This represents a significant drop from two years ago, when 17% were deemed to be living healthily. Researchers attribute part of this decline to adjusted criteria concerning alcohol and tobacco consumption within the evaluation process.
The survey results indicate a noticeable gender disparity, with women outperforming men across all health benchmarks. While 3% of women meet all criteria for a completely healthy lifestyle, only 1% of men achieve this distinction.
An examination of individual benchmarks paints a mixed picture. Just 34% of respondents fulfill the criteria for healthy eating, while a more encouraging 68% meet the requirements for physical activity. However, a concerningly low 32% meet the combined guidelines for both endurance and muscle-strengthening activities. These combined movement strategies are consistently highlighted as crucial in combating chronic lifestyle-related diseases.
Ingo Frobös from the German Sport University Cologne emphasized the necessity of incorporating strength training throughout life. “Alongside regular endurance exercise, training our muscles is vital for healthy aging. We must no longer view it as a voluntary addition to endurance training, but as a preventative necessity.
Beyond physical activity and nutrition, the study also analyzed sedentary behavior. The average daily sitting time has increased from 598 to 613 minutes compared to 2023. This sedentary tendency places 37% of respondents at an elevated risk of mortality, a trend which Frobös described as particularly concerning. He calls for a societal shift away from sedentary habits and toward an environment that encourages, supports and rewards physical activity.
