Nutrition study Many Germans eat unhealthy

In Germany, people prefer to eat "delicious than healthy"

23.02.2013

Almost 50 percent of young people in Germany hardly value a healthy and conscious food. Instead, speed in preparation and implementation are important. Many just eat on the side, as a completion that needs to be done. This resulted in at least one representative survey of the research opinion polling institute „Forsa“ on behalf of the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK).

Lots of fast food barely time
The fast-paced society apparently demands its tribune. As part of the study „Eat something, Germany?“ showed that especially young people do not attach much importance to eating. For example, eat „Four out of ten young adults with a fork in one hand and in the other tap into the smartphone“. As a matter of course, the TV is also running by the way. On the way in the suburban train, many people eat a pizza and later in the evening a portion of French fries and a hamburger are devoured in the fast food restaurant. „For every third adult under the age of 25, this nutritional day looks like this at least three times a week“.

A second group of societies that is increasingly worrying nutritionists are workers who barely have time to have enough of their lunch break. Many workers find it difficult to reconcile a healthy diet with their work. „Only one in two can actually eat in peace during his breaks“, states in the study.

No time for healthy food during lunch break
About one third of the employees complain that a health-conscious diet is no longer possible at work, reports Professor Manfred Güllner, Managing Director of the opinion research institute Forsa. His research institute asked representative TK about 1,000 adults about their daily eating habits. „Everything has to go fast, there is no time for enjoyment“.

Dr. Jens Baas of TK warns against losing sight of our diet. "Nutrition has to get more space in our everyday lives again." It's not about hours of time, but about the fact that you are in the moment at the moment, "said the expert in presenting the study results in Berlin. About half of the respondents said that the food „should be tasty in the main“. what in „delicious food“ was in there, was rather secondary to many.

Horse meat scandal could cause rethinking
The nutrition expert Ute Gola finds the „Horsemeat scandal just wonderful because it moves to rethink“. Many, especially young people believe that cheap food can only be realized with the help of finished products. „Those who buy fresh can also eat cheap.“ Therefore, in addition to computer courses, students in schools should attend cooking classes again in order to learn how to prepare fresh food. The nutritionist therefore calls for a rethinking in schools and families. It is no accident that more and more people are suffering from diabetes or are seriously overweight.

The supposedly missing time is the biggest enemy of healthy eating. At work, there is a limited choice of food and time is pressing for the next appointment. Instead of "five a day", the solution for many is: "Four out of ten employees surveyed say that they do not eat much at work, but then have plenty at home in the evening," says Güllner.

Food is not very important
Only one in two survey respondents stated that food was a high priority. Only 25 percent said they would consistently eat healthily. It follows that only every second person cooks something home every day. Many consumers buy ready meals and bag soup, which are full of artificial substances. Four out of ten people eat a soup from the bag or a pizza from the freezer at least once or twice a week.

Neither at work nor in the spare time many feel the ticking time. Over 50 percent said they had no time for healthy cooking. This thesis even represented nearly 75 percent of under-25s. Also the „inner pig dog“ plays a major role. „Good intentions are quickly thrown overboard“. In Hartz IV recipients or low-income earners, the missing money is also given as a reason.

Heavy development and health consequences
The consequences of an unhealthy diet have long been proven by numerous research. A large-scale US study found that unhealthy eating behaviors trigger inflammatory processes. These processes are responsible for a number of consequential damages. For example, researchers at the Institute of Psychiatry Research in New York found that eating fast foods permanently slows down the brain. In MRI examinations „Significant structural damage was mainly caused by the reduction of the appetite and reward center.“ In addition, the unhealthy diet is directly related to the rising number of patients with metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.

TK CEO Baas warns: "If we want a society that lives longer and healthier, we need to take more care of what we eat and how we eat, and we can and must tackle both." Everyone is in demand, politics, employers, countries, doctors and schools, just everyone. „But consciousness can be conveyed, not prescribed.“ Therefore, every individual is asked to rethink. (Sb)

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Image: Benjamin Thorn