Life assessment: A minimal number maintain a balanced lifestyle
The recently published DKV Report 2025 reveals that only 2% of Germans meet all criteria for a healthy lifestyle[1][2]. This annual report, now in its eighth edition, evaluates various aspects of health, including diet, alcohol consumption, smoking, physical activity, and sedentary behavior.
Key statistics on healthy lifestyle habits in Germany are:
- Alcohol Consumption: About 29% of the population do not drink alcohol at all[1].
- Physical Activity:
- 68% of respondents meet the recommended endurance activity levels.
- Only 34% meet the muscle activity recommendations (muscle training at least twice a week).
- Just 32% fulfill combined endurance and muscle activity recommendations[3].
- Sedentary Behavior: Germans sit an average of 613 minutes per day (over 10 hours), which is an increase from previous years, indicating rising sedentary lifestyles[1][3].
- Diet: Only around 34% of Germans eat a healthy diet, adhering to recommendations from the German Nutrition Association, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, cereals, legumes, nuts, and low meat consumption[1][2].
The report also provides additional context, revealing that:
- About 80% of Germans do not smoke or use e-cigarettes[1].
- Women generally perform slightly better than men in maintaining a healthy lifestyle[1].
- Subjective well-being correlates with physical activity, with those regularly walking or cycling reporting higher well-being[3].
Ingo Froboese, a health expert, explains that sufficient physical activity can be achieved by cycling to work or taking brisk evening walks[3]. Despite the suboptimal health behaviors, the report underscores Germany's strong disease treatment capabilities. However, it emphasizes the need for improved preventive health behaviors among the population.
[1] DKV Report 2025: https://www.dkv.de/de/aktuelles/dkv-report-2025 [2] German Health Insurance (DKV): https://www.dkv.de/ [3] German Sport University Cologne and the University of Würzburg: https://www.dhfk.de/en/home/; https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/en/index.html
Science indicates a significant gap in healthy lifestyle habits among Germans, with only 2% meeting all criteria as per the DKV Report 2025. Workplace-wellness and health-and-wellness initiatives, focusing on fitness-and-exercise, mental-health, and nutrition, are crucial for promoting a more health-conscious population in Germany. To bridge this gap, an emphasis on increasing physical activity, such as cycling to work or taking brisk evening walks, and adopting a balanced diet can greatly contribute to improving overall health and mental well-being.
