Movement muffle The majority of Germans live unhealthily

Too little exercise: Many Germans live unhealthily

Although health experts repeatedly emphasize the importance of regular exercise for our bodies, a large proportion of Germans do not do enough. Lack of exercise not only favors many diseases, but also has a negative impact on the subjective well-being.

Lack of exercise promotes illnesses

Doctors emphasize again and again how important regular exercise is for our body. Lack of exercise and sitting for a long time make you ill. Among other things, it promotes chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system, such as hypertension. Other health consequences: an increased risk of type II diabetes, overweight, musculoskeletal complaints due to physical underwear and unilateral attitudes, but also psychological effects such as depressive moods or lack of drive. But despite all these risks, many Germans do not move enough. This is evident from the DKV report "How healthy does Germany live?" In 2018.

A large part of the Germans moves too little and sits much too much. This favors various civilization diseases. (Image: Jacek Chabraszewski / fotolia.com)

Minimum physical activity

As stated in a statement by the Ergo Insurance Group, physical inactivity is becoming an ever greater problem in Germany.

Because, according to a survey commissioned by DKV Deutsche Krankenversicherung, only 43 percent of those surveyed achieved the recommended minimum level of physical activity.

In 2010, the value was still at 60 percent.

"Since the first edition of the 2010 report, Germans have been moving less and less - and physical activity is of central importance to our well-being. This applies to all age groups and starts as early as childhood, "said Clemens Muth, Chairman of the Board of DKV in a press release.

For the current DKV report, which can be downloaded in a media library, almost 2,900 Germans were interviewed.

Impact on subjective well-being

Lack of physical activity not only has a negative impact on physical health, but also on subjective well-being:

"Adequate exercise in free time is considered a good way to reduce stress," said Ingo Froböse, a professor at the German Sport University in Cologne and scientific director of the DKV report.

"Anyone who does not have sufficient physical activity can under certain circumstances only compensate for their everyday stress and therefore be more susceptible to psychosomatic suffering."

Particularly alarming in this context: In total, ten percent of the respondents did not engage in any physical activity, which they followed for more than ten minutes at a time - neither during work nor during transport or leisure.

The Germans are sitting too much

In addition, the Germans sit longer again: After a slight improvement in 2016, the duration of sitting increased by 30 minutes per day to 7.5 hours.

"Research indicates that long and uninterrupted periods of sitting can increase the risk of causing many civilizational diseases," says Froböse.

For example, studies have shown that sitting for a long time is very painful to the back and increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.

"These negative health effects can only be counterbalanced by a very high level of physical activity."

"Healthy relationship to exercise"

According to the DKV, the combination of multi-seat (more than eight hours per day) with the physically inactive persons of the survey makes it clear that almost one in three of them reinforces the negative effects on a healthy lifestyle.

A total of 28 percent of the respondents come out both as a multi-seat and a moan and miss the minimum activity recommendations.

Nearly every third person sits between four and six hours a day during work. This affects especially younger people.

"A healthy relationship with exercise starts in childhood. Especially in kindergartens and schools, we have to shape the activity behavior, "said Clemens Muth.

"The great basics of physical activity is therefore in no way inferior to the knowledge of the laws of gravity."

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults exercise physically for at least 150 minutes a week, such as cycling, jogging, playing football or swimming - at least ten minutes at a time. It is important that an increased respiratory and heart rate is generated.

More Non smoking in Germany

The DKV report also comes with a pleasing message: There are apparently more and more non-smokers in Germany. According to the information, only 21 percent of Germans still use their cigarettes.

However, there are strong regional differences here.

Accordingly, most non-smokers live in Hesse, Baden-Wuerttemberg and Hamburg, where 82 percent of people show cold stinging smells.

The most smoke is made on the German Baltic Sea coast: in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, 28 percent use the cigarette.

In addition, the survey found that 82 percent did not drink alcohol at all or only occasionally. The Hessians most frequently raise the glass, the least alcohol is drunk in Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland.

Many can not sufficiently compensate for their stress

"A healthy way to deal with stress is enormously important," said Froböse. "Almost half of all respondents (43 percent), according to the results but not enough to compensate for their stress sufficient."

The best way for people in Baden-Württemberg. Here, 62 percent reach the benchmark for dealing with stress in a healthy way.

Persons from Saxony-Anhalt, Hesse and Brandenburg have the highest level of stress: Only one in two residents indicates that they can well compensate for the stress. (Ad)