Study Germany, Land of the Sportmuffel

Sport as a foreign word - Germans are always moaning and sport deniers

07/30/2013

More and more Germans are really moaning. „On average, every adult in Germany spends seven hours sitting - day after day“ and „Of the employed, every third person sits more than nine hours“, reported the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) in a recent press release on the presentation of the motion study 2013.

Many would like to do more sports
While most Germans are well aware of the benefits of regular exercise, they do „The lives of many people in Germany are largely motionless“, so the message of TK. The influx to be recorded in the gyms and sports clubs is therefore gratifying, but reflects the reality only limited. Many respondents would like to move more and do sports, according to the latest TK motion study, but the move is being implemented only by a few - not least because they do not have the time. The main obstacle remains according to the TK „the inner bastard“, Almost every second interviewee stands in the way and pulls them - instead of in the sneakers - to sofa and remote control.

Most respondents move less than an hour a day
On behalf of the Techniker Krankenkasse, the opinion research institute Forsa carried out a representative survey, „to find out how active the people in Germany are in everyday life, job, leisure time and vacation and what health consequences this has for them“, so the message of TK. The result is frightening according to Forsa CEO Professor Manfred Güllner. „Only four out of ten people in this country are still on foot in their everyday lives. So two-thirds do not even come for an hour of exercise a day - every course to the copier included“, explained Güllner the extent of the detected lack of movement.

Sportmuffel in the majority
Overall, the proportion of the moaning or sport denial since the last survey in 2007 has increased from 45 percent to 52 percent. „Not even every second German is doing sports - the sporty meanwhile have taken over the majority“, emphasizes the TC. The sports deniers are well aware of the disadvantages of lack of exercise. That's how every second anti-athlete can cope, „that sport would do him good“ and „Almost as many admit that they do not feel well in their bodies“, explains the Techniker health insurance, citing the survey results.

More exercise offers at work required
Unfavorable work on many of the work on the movement behavior, so one of the other results of the current motion study. The „Almost half of the working people already spend their working days sitting down - and even the occasional short breaks in between fall by the wayside of every two of them in hectic job routine“, reports the TC. Again, two-thirds of the multi-seaters would regret the lack of exercise „and would like to have a more busy job day“,explained Güllner. For example, 90 percent of working people would like to exercise in their company, but many do not find it here.

Entire population decouples from physical activity
According to the chairman of the board of the Techniker Krankenkasse, Dr. Ing. Jens Baas, it is „particularly worrying that an entire population group seems to be getting further and further away from the movement - in all areas of life.“ The movement and Sportmuffel would increasingly avoid any movement in everyday life. „If you prefer to spend your free time in front of the screen, you will not be able to walk in everyday life, and you are most likely to put your feet up on holiday“, reports the TC. In the end, I will „Movement for more and more people to the foreign word“, so the conclusion of Baas. In the survey, every third antisport athlete has stated that nobody in his environment is doing any more sports. „We do not believe that everyone has a sports cannon or is stuck in it and do not demonize even a lazy evening on the sofa“, but the extent of the lack of exercise caused him considerable concern, explained Baas.

Who moves, wins
According to the head of the TK, the results of the current movement study again make it clear that it is important to set where the people live „spend their everyday lives: in the companies, in schools, kindergartens and communities“, to improve the movement behavior of the population in the long term Otherwise, we just do not reach those who need the support most, so Baas on. Motor initiatives like „Healthy school“ or „Healthy daycare“ and occupational health management is the right way to do this. At the presentation of the motion study also participated the Olympic champion in biathlon Magdalena Neuner, in the context of the TK campaign „Who moves, wins!“ engaged for more exercise. „It does not have to be a marathon - but a little more exercise in everyday life makes such a big difference“, Neuner stressed.

Recreational athletes with better health and fewer common diseases
According to the top athlete, the benefits of the sport were again confirmed by the current study, because the sporty muffle had not only rated their health and general well-being much lower than the recreational athletes, but also suffered far more frequently from the major common diseases. „I just wish that our action makes us want to move and shows how much fun sports do. Only those who enjoy the movement will stay on the ball in the long term“, Neuner stressed and added: „If we really want to change something, everyone has to pull together.“ Here everyone should also take their own nose, so the conclusion of the top biathlete. (Fp)