Living Analysis: Few Embrace a Healthy Lifestyle
In the latest edition of the annual "How Healthy is Germany?" report, published by the German Health Insurance (DKV), the nation's lifestyle habits have been scrutinized, revealing a mix of positive and concerning trends.
The surveys for this year's report were conducted in February and March 2025, with around 2,800 people aged 18 and above participating. The report, created in collaboration with the German Sport University Cologne and the University of Würzburg, aims to provide insights into the nation's health and lifestyle habits.
Physical activity is a priority for a significant portion of the population. Approximately one-third of Germans belong to a sports club or organization, and fitness studios, with approximately 11.3 million members, are popular. Common activities include soccer, gymnastics, tennis, walking, and cycling. Programs like the “Healthy and Active Aging” initiative, launched in 2010 and ongoing, encourage physical activity among older adults through everyday training and hiking campaigns.
Interest in healthy eating is strong, with around 24.26 million people expressing interest in these topics. However, adherence to recommended dietary patterns like the Mediterranean diet is moderate, with fewer than one in four adults showing high adherence. Barriers include taste preferences, affordability, availability, and preparation time.
The report's criteria for a healthy lifestyle involve achieving at least 20 out of a total of 30 possible points. Based on these criteria, only 6% of all respondents in the current survey would lead a healthy lifestyle. Slightly less than one-third (29%) of respondents claim to abstain from alcohol completely, with women more likely to abstain compared to men. On average, people spend more than ten hours sitting on a workday, which is almost two hours more than ten years ago.
The report also highlights the importance of balancing prolonged sitting with physical activity. Only about one-third of those who sit for at least eight hours a day manage to balance this with an hour or more of physical activity per day.
Stress management is another area of concern, with only 20% of respondents managing to handle stress in a healthy way. Nearly one in five (19%) barely moves in their leisure time and on transportation routes, with their movements never lasting longer than 10 minutes.
Despite these findings, there are positive aspects. More than two-thirds (68%) of respondents engage in sufficient physical activity to gain health benefits. The proportion of all respondents who meet the recommendations for minimal endurance activity and twice-weekly muscle training is 32%.
In previous reports, occasional alcohol consumption was considered tolerable. However, the specific up-to-date quantitative statistics on alcohol consumption levels were not detailed in the provided search results. Public health initiatives in Germany aim at promoting healthier lifestyles, including alcohol moderation.
In terms of gender differences, women tend to eat healthier, while men engage in sports more frequently. Women are more likely to abstain from alcohol completely compared to men.
The "How Healthy is Germany?" report has been published for the 8th time this year, underscoring the ongoing importance of monitoring and addressing lifestyle-related health issues in the country.
- The 'Healthy and Active Aging' initiative, launched in 2010 and ongoing, encourages physical activity among older adults through everyday training and hiking campaigns, aligning with the nation's focus on fitness-and-exercise.
- Interest in healthy eating is strong, with around 24.26 million people expressing interest in these topics, indicating a correlation between health-and-wellness and nutrition.
- Stress management is another area of concern, with only 20% of respondents managing to handle stress in a healthy way, highlighting the need for mental-health considerations in the nation's health and lifestyle habits.
