Germans thicker and sportier

GEDA study: More and more Germans feel healthy

07/09/2012

More and more Germans feel healthy. At the same time, the proportion of obese people is increasing. This was the result of the current evaluation of the GEDA study. When comparing northern and southern Germany, it is noticeable that citizens in the south of the Federal Republic are less likely to be sick for a long time than in the north.

Bavarian women feel the healthiest
The GEDA study (Health in Germany aktuell) is part of the health monitoring of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and collects data on the state of health of the population in order to pass it on to the politicians in a timely manner. 22,000 citizens were interviewed for the last GEDA study between September 2009 and July 2010. Since the third evaluation of a Geda study is already available - the surveys were evaluated in 2003, 2009 and 2010 - the development of the health status of the population can be traced. Conclusion: In addition to some worrying trends such as the rising numbers of obese, there are also some positive trends.

According to the latest evaluation, 69 percent of women say they feel healthy. Three in four of the over 18-year-old men also assess their state of health well. Overall, however, the positive assessment of health status decreases with age. Among the 29-year-old respondents, 92 percent of men and 87 percent of women still rated their health as very good or good. Among men aged 65 and over, only 56 percent (2003/2009: 52 percent) and less than 49 percent of women (2003: 42 percent, 2009: 46 percent) are men. It is also striking that, according to the GEDA study, the state of health is rated much better by the upper levels of education than by the lower education groups. The educational gradient has a particularly strong effect on women.

The German comparison showed that women from Bavaria and men from Baden-Württemberg rated their health more positively than the national average. „A regional comparison shows that women in Bavaria and men in Baden-Württemberg assess their health better than the national average; On the other hand, the assessments of very good or good health for women in the East (South) region and men in the Central Region are below the national average“ it says in the GEDA evaluation.

People in the south are rarely ill for a long time
In order to compare regions with one another, smaller states were grouped together to form so-called Nielsen areas, a common method in market research. Significant differences between northern and southern Germany were found in the number of people who were ill for more than 50 days in the last 12 months. In the south, therefore, the citizens were rarely ill for a long time.

In chronic diseases, there is a significant increase compared to previous years. The number of women with diabetes rose from seven (2003) to nine percent (2009, 2010). In men, 3.5 percent more men reported diabetes (2010: 8.5 percent, 2003: 5.0 percent).

Striking is the gender difference in chronic diseases. „42% of women and 35% of men report having at least one chronic illness. Across all age groups the difference between the sexes is significant“, This is the result of the GEDA study. Generally, the incidence of chronic diseases increases with age. While less than one-fifth of the youngest age group suffer from such a condition, over 65% of older people are over half of men and just under 60% of women.

More thickness, less smoker
Also, the number of people with obesity (with a body mass index of at least 30) has increased significantly in both sexes. Among men, there was an increase from 12.8 to 16 percent and among women from 12.5 to 16 percent. The increase in women between the ages of 30 and 44, with just under five percent, is particularly clear.

The RKI rated the development in smoking particularly positively. While in 2003, almost 29 percent of women and 38.3 percent of men smoked, in 2010, only 26 or 33.9 percent.

An equally pleasing trend is emerging in Puncto Sport. 64 per cent of women (around 5 per cent) and men (2003: just under 61 per cent) said they regularly do sports. (Ag)

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Image: Martina Friedl