Life report: Few individuals live a healthy lifestyle
In a recent survey conducted by the German Sports University Cologne and the University of Würzburg, several concerning trends in the health habits of the German population have emerged. The surveys were carried out in February and March 2025.
One of the most striking findings was that only about 2% of the surveyed population meets the criteria for a healthy lifestyle. This is a significant decrease from the 9% who were leading a healthy lifestyle in the last survey in 2023.
The survey revealed that more than two-thirds (68%) of respondents move enough in their daily lives to gain health benefits. However, even two to three sports units per week cannot sufficiently compensate for long sitting times. In fact, people spend more than ten hours a day sitting at work, on average. Nearly one in five people barely move in their leisure time and on transportation routes.
Sedentary behavior has been linked to higher health risks, and there is growing public health focus on reducing sedentary time. Ingo Froboese, professor at the German Sports University Cologne, aptly stated, "Sitting is the new smoking."
When it comes to alcohol consumption, slightly less than a third (29%) of respondents claim to completely abstain from alcohol. The highest value for healthy alcohol consumption is achieved by complete abstinence from alcohol. Interestingly, 37% of women and 21% of men completely abstain from alcohol. Previous reports considered occasional alcohol consumption tolerable, but this criterion is no longer applicable in the current survey.
The survey also found that only about a third (30%) of those who sit a lot balance their long sitting time with an hour or more of exercise per day. At least 60 minutes of physical activity per day is necessary for those who sit a lot, according to Birgit Sperlich from the University of Würzburg.
It's worth noting that only about one in five manages stress healthily on a daily basis. Women eat healthier than men, while men exercise more often. A healthy eating style is considered achieved if at least 20 out of a total of 30 possible points are reached.
The report also highlighted that about 32 percent of respondents meet the recommendations for minimal endurance activity and twice-weekly muscle training. This can happen through activities such as cycling to work or brisk walks after work, totaling 150 minutes of moderate activity per week.
General knowledge suggests that a moderate proportion of Germans follow a balanced diet, but consumption of processed foods and alcohol remains a concern. About 40-50% of adults meet the WHO recommendations for physical activity, but sedentary behavior is increasing due to work and leisure screen time.
To obtain the precise and latest statistics from the German Health Insurance Fund (DKV), it is recommended to consult their official reports, health surveys, or publications directly, as those figures are not included or summarized in the current search results.
- The survey conducted by the German Sports University Cologne and the University of Würzburg in 2025 revealed that only a third of people who sit a lot balance their long sitting time with an hour or more of exercise per day, which is necessary for workplace-wellness according to Birgit Sperlich from the University of Würzburg.
- The report also highlighted that only about one in five manage stress healthily on a daily basis, and women eat healthier than men, while men exercise more often, suggesting a need for greater focus on health-and-wellness and mental-health.
- In the survey, it was found that general knowledge suggesting that a moderate proportion of Germans follow a balanced diet is not accurate, as consumption of processed foods and alcohol remains a concern.
- The survey findings showed that chronic-diseases and medical-conditions might be on the rise due to sedentary behavior, poor nutrition, and insufficient fitness-and-exercise, emphasizing the importance of science in addressing these issues for the betterment of the German population's health and wellness.
