Life assessment: A scant few maintain a healthy lifestyle
In the latest edition of the "How Healthy Does Germany Live?" report, published by the German Health Insurance (DKV), the country's health status has been analysed in depth. The report, now in its 8th year, was produced in collaboration with the German Sports University Cologne and the University of Würzburg.
The survey, conducted in February and March 2025, involved around 2,800 people aged 18 and over, assessing their nutrition, physical activity, and sedentary behaviour.
One of the key findings is that only 2% of the population meet the criteria for a healthy lifestyle, with women (3%) performing better than men (1%). This low figure is attributed to various factors, including the high prevalence of sedentary behaviour and unhealthy eating habits.
Physical activity remains a significant focus, with more than two-thirds (68 percent) of respondents moving enough in their daily lives to gain health benefits. Common types of exercise include soccer, gymnastics, tennis, as well as everyday activities like walking and cycling, which are widely integrated into daily routines like commuting. Germany also has government-supported programs such as “Healthy and Active Aging” that promote physical activity, especially among older adults, through hiking and other initiatives.
However, the report highlights that one of the current biggest challenges is that people spend too much time sitting. On a workday, the average time spent sitting is more than ten hours, which is almost two hours more than ten years ago. Nearly one in five people barely move at all in their free time and for transportation, with 19 percent reporting movements never lasting longer than 10 minutes.
When it comes to diet, about 24.26 million people in Germany expressed a strong interest in healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle as of 2024. Many Germans use food supplements, especially vitamins like vitamin C and D, which are popular for immune support and compensating for less sunlight in winter.
Regarding alcohol consumption, no specific recent statistics were provided in the report. However, it was noted that slightly less than one-third (29%) of respondents claim to completely abstain from alcohol, with 37% of women completely abstaining compared to only 21% of men.
The report also emphasises the importance of handling stress in a healthy way. Unfortunately, only one in five manages to do so on a daily basis.
In conclusion, while Germany shows stable high interest in healthy eating and active lifestyles, supported by both personal choices and public health programs, there are still significant challenges to be addressed, particularly in reducing sedentary behaviour and promoting healthier alcohol consumption and stress management.
In the report, the German Health Insurance highlights that only a small percentage (2%) of the population meets the criteria for a healthy lifestyle, with women (3%) performing slightly better than men (1%), primarily due to the high prevalence of sedentary behavior and unhealthy eating habits. Despite more than two-thirds (68 percent) of respondents engaging in sufficient physical activity, the average workday involves over ten hours of sitting, a trend that has increased by almost two hours over the past decade.
More encouragingly, the report indicates that around 24.26 million people in Germany have shown a strong interest in healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle as of 2024. Additionally, the use of food supplements, such as vitamins C and D, is popular among Germans, particularly for immune support during seasons with less sunlight.
The report also recommends focusing on reducing sedentarism, promoting healthier alcohol consumption, and improving stress management, as these areas pose the biggest challenges in Germany's ongoing pursuit of workplace wellness, health and wellness, fitness and exercise, and mental health.
