Unhealthy Living Prevalent Among Many Germans, Reveals DKV Report
New Report Reveals Only 2% of Germans Live a Completely Healthy Lifestyle
According to the latest "How Healthy Does Germany Live?" report published by the German Health Insurance (DKV), a startling 2% of Germans adhere to a fully healthy lifestyle[1]. The report, now in its 8th edition, highlights concerning health risk behaviors among the population[2].
The report analyses various health behaviors, including exercise, nutrition, and stress management. However, the findings suggest that the vast majority of the population does not maintain all the recommended healthy habits simultaneously[3].
One of the key findings is the sedentary behavior of Germans, with an average of ten hours a day spent sitting, which negatively impacts overall health[1][3].
In terms of alcohol consumption, slightly less than a third (29%) of respondents claim to completely abstain from alcohol in the current survey. However, the report does not specify if this decrease in the percentage of people leading a healthy life is significant or not[3].
The report also reveals that women perform better than men in terms of a healthy lifestyle, with 3% of women compared to 1% of men adhering to all healthy habits[3].
Interestingly, the criteria for a healthy lifestyle in the current survey are stricter than in previous reports. For instance, the highest score for healthy alcohol consumption requires complete abstention, as stated in the report[3]. On the other hand, occasional alcohol consumption was considered acceptable in previous reports[3].
It's worth noting that the current survey did not specify smoking habits[3].
This data reflects a significant public health challenge in Germany regarding lifestyle-related risk factors and preventive health behavior[1][3]. The low percentage of people leading a fully healthy lifestyle underscores the need for increased awareness and efforts to promote healthy lifestyles among the population.
[1] German Health Insurance (DKV). (2025). How Healthy Does Germany Live? Report 2025. Retrieved from https://www.dkv.de/de/aktuelles/presse/pressemitteilungen/2025/dkv-gesundheitsbericht-2025-deutschland-lebt-gesund.html
[2] German Health Insurance (DKV). (2025). How Healthy Does Germany Live? Report 2025. Retrieved from https://www.dkv.de/de/aktuelles/presse/pressemitteilungen/2025/dkv-gesundheitsbericht-2025-deutschland-lebt-gesund.html
[3] German Health Insurance (DKV). (2025). How Healthy Does Germany Live? Report 2025. Retrieved from https://www.dkv.de/de/aktuelles/presse/pressemitteilungen/2025/dkv-gesundheitsbericht-2025-deutschland-lebt-gesund.html
- To address the low percentage of people living a healthy lifestyle in Germany, community policy makers could consider implementing health-and-wellness initiatives that promote fitness-and-exercise, mental-health, and nutrition.
- The German Health Insurance (DKV) report has shown that the vast majority of Germans do not maintain all recommended healthy habits simultaneously, including employment policy in terms of taking care of mental health during work, which could potentially be addressed through science-based workplace wellness programs.
- In light of the startling finding that only 2% of Germans live completely healthily, it might be beneficial to focus on improving various aspects of the population's lifestyle, such as employment policies that encourage work-life balance, nutrition education for optimal food choices, and fitness exercises to reduce sedentary behavior in employment settings.
