More and more young people are neglecting their health

Study: Young people neglect their own health

Not only the Internet is full of tips and tricks that help people live healthier lives. For younger citizens, however, the recommendations do not seem to be quite so. According to a new study, more and more young Germans think that medical progress will keep them healthy for a lifetime. Prevention and a healthy lifestyle are therefore superfluous for many.

Serious illnesses have lost their terror for younger people

Last year, a survey of DAK Gesundheit showed that most Germans fear cancer. The fear of Alzheimer's and dementia is also widespread among the German citizens. But according to a recent study, serious illnesses such as heart attack, cancer and diabetes have apparently lost their horror - at least for the 14- to 34-year-olds.

According to a recent study, a healthy lifestyle is increasingly superfluous for an increasing number of young people. Many of them are convinced that they will keep medical progress healthy. (Image: Spectral-Design / fotolia.com)

Trust in medical progress

Actually, healthy nutrition and regular exercise are extremely important, especially for young people, but more and more young Germans are convinced that medical progress and digital helpers will keep them healthy.

A healthy lifestyle is therefore increasingly superfluous, according to conviction of almost 40 percent.

This is shown by the study "Future Health - Young Citizens on the pulse felt" by the Schwenninger health insurance and the foundation "Die Gesundarbeiter". Every year, more than 1,000 young people and young adults in Germany between 14 and 34 are interviewed.

Prevention is not an issue for many young people

Prevention is not an issue for six out of ten 14- to 34-year-olds. The readiness for health care decreases from year to year.

According to the current study, 38 percent of respondents say that cancer and cardiovascular diseases, for example, can be better cured - in 2016, barely one in four people took this view.

In addition, 28 percent consider it less important to look after their own health, as medical aids will keep them healthy (2016: 21 percent).

In youth, the foundation for chronic diseases is laid

"This development is worrying, especially against the background that more and more young people due to lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet suffer from obesity," said the doctor and health expert of Schwenninger, Dr. med. Tanja Katrin Hantke, in a message.

"In doing so, they lay the foundation for chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular diseases even in their youth," warns the expert.

She points out that living with a chronic disease is still a major drawback - despite all medical advances. This fact is often overlooked.

"When it comes to health and healthy living, young people have huge educational gaps. At home and at school, this knowledge is often not taught enough, "Hantke regrets.

After all, the majority of respondents recognized that there are shortcomings here. 78 percent want a school health. Nearly six out of ten respondents (58 percent) see the health insurance funds as their duty. (Ad)