Obesity in Germany

Last updated
Share of adults that are obese, 1975 to 2016 Obesity in Germany.svg
Share of adults that are obese, 1975 to 2016

Obesity in Germany has been increasingly cited as a major health issue in recent years. The federal government has declared this to be a major issue. [1]

Contents

Data released by the World Health Organization in 2014 showed that while an issue of growing concern, within the European Union, Germany had an incidence of overweight and obese adults as a percentage of the total population at 54.8% as in comparison with France at 60.7%, Spain at 60.9% or the United Kingdom at 63.4%. [2]

History

Prior to 2007

In 1998, 19 percent of men and 22.5 percent of women met the definition of obesity. [3] Childhood obesity doubled between 1985 and 1999. [4] Childhood obesity is at about 1.9 million children in Germany; of which 800.000 are considered truly obese. [4]

2007 – 2010

Chart showing that Germany had the most overweight and obese people among Europeans in 2007 Fettleibigkeit in Europa2.svg
Chart showing that Germany had the most overweight and obese people among Europeans in 2007

A 2007 study shows Germany had the highest number of overweight people in Europe. [5] [6] However, the United Kingdom, Greece and certain countries in Eastern Europe have a higher rate of "truly obese" people. [7] In 2007, The German obesity rate was considered at the same level as with the American obesity rate. [8] In Germany, 60% of men and 43% of women are considered overweight while in France, 38.5% of men and 26% of women are considered overweight. [9] Germans are considered thinner than people in the United Kingdom. [9] The waist of female Germans between the ages of 14 and 70 grew by 4.1 centimetres between 1994 and 2009. [10] The belly girth of men between 16 and 70 grew by 4.4 centimetres between 1980 and 2009. [10]

2011 – Present

The number of overweight people in Germany has stagnated between 1998 and December 2011. [11] 67.1% of all men between 18 and 79 are considered overweight with a BMI of 25 or greater. [11] In 2019, the proportion of overweight and obese people in Germany was at an average level for the EU-27. [12]

Childhood obesity

Italy has surpassed Germany for having the fattest children in Europe. [13] A survey in 2007 had Germany listed as the country with "the highest proportion of overweight children in Europe." [13] However, despite dropping in the rankings, the number of truly obese children have doubled in the past decade. [14]

Around 4% of 5 to 7 year-olds and 8% of 10 to 14 year-olds are obese in Germany. [15]

Healthful lifestyle

Only 14% live a "completely healthful" life. [16] Almost a quarter of German adults meet the definition of obesity. [3] Both men and women are around 23%. [3]

State-by-state

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern go on foot or by bicycle to get where they need to more often than any other state. [16] Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has the most people living a "completely healthy" life at a rate of 19.8% of the people while Saxony-Anhalt have the fewest people living a "completely healthy" life. [16] Thuringia has the healthiest eating habits while people from North Rhine-Westphalia and Berlin have the worst eating habits. [16]

Statistics of people living a "completely healthy" life

RankingStatePercentage
of people
living a
"completely healthy"
life		Source
1 Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 19.8 [16]
2 Lower Saxony & Bremen 19.5
3 Saxony 17.2
4 Bavaria 16.5
5 Hesse 14.7
6 Thuringia 13.9
7 Schleswig-Holstein 13.6
8 Berlin 12.3
9 North Rhine-Westphalia 12.0
Hamburg 12.0
11 Baden-Württemberg 11.3
12 Rhineland-Palatinate & Saarland 9.4
Brandenburg 9.4
14 Saxony-Anhalt 7.9

Causes

Food and drinks

A high consumption of beer, fatty and processed foods and a lack of exercise are to be blamed for obesity in Germany. [7] [17] [18]

Another issue is the lack of fruits, vegetables and fish in the German diet. [17] Children's food products do not contribute to a healthy diet. [19]

Die Welt reported that a "balanced diet is practically impossible." [19] The profit margin for fruits and vegetables was below five percent while confectionery, soft drinks and snacks was at 15% or more. [19]

Genes

Genes partly play a role in obesity. [20] Scientists at the German Institute of Human Nutrition and the University Hospital of Leipzig stated that identified two genes that promote fat accumulation in the abdominal cavity. [21] The increased activity of the genes also promotes the release of an enzyme that is responsible for the formation of cortisol. [21] A permanent increase in cortisol levels contribute to obesity. [21]

Marriage

Marriage has played a factor. [9] 69% of married men are considered overweight while only 43% of single men are considered overweight. [9] 58% of widowed women are considered overweight and 46% of married women are considered overweight, while only 25% of single women are considered overweight. [9] For children, lifestyle choices such as exercise and enough sleep plays a role in weight. [13]

Effects

Employment problems

A study by the German Sport University Cologne revealed that some industries in Germany have a shortage of qualified trainees due to Germany's obesity epidemic. [22] The industries affected are security and emergency services and skilled manual work sectors. [22]

Clothing industry

A clothing-related study revealed that many clothing companies plan to adjust their sizing partly due to Germany's obesity epidemic. [10]

Physical health

Several studies have shown that obese men tend to have a lower sperm count, fewer rapidly mobile sperm and fewer progressively motile sperm compared to normal-weight men. [23]

Obesity in Germany has created a cholesterol problem. [17] High cholesterol is known to cause premature death, angina, heart disease and strokes. [17]

There has been an increase of children with Type 1 diabetes between 1996 and 2011. [24] Diabetics are at higher risk for complications such as heart attack and stroke. [24] In Germany, 600,000 people suffered from diabetes near the end of World War II compared to eight million now. [24]

Obesity can increase risk for secondary diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and Alzheimer's. [14] Children who get diabetes can expect to lose 10 to 15 years off of their lives. [24] Diabetes also affect the eyes, kidneys and nerves in the legs. [24]

Obesity is a "very strong promoter of cancer." [25] Obesity causes an increased risk for colon cancer and breast cancer. [25]

Costs

Health costs because of obesity has increased and accounts for 20% of health costs. [8] A third of patients suffer from a loss of control when eating and how much out of control depends on how fat the patient is. [14]

Intelligence

Obesity in seniors shows that it makes seniors less intelligent. [26]

Programs

There are many weight loss children programs for kids. [4]

Fit instead of Fat

The Fit instead of Fat program is run by the German federal government. The objective of the program is to "sharply" reduce obesity rates by the year 2020. [5] [6] The program will try and meet the target by improving the quality of food offered in schools and hospitals along with increasing exercise levels in children. [5] [6]

Bundeswehr's fitness camp

As of 2007, forty percent of the Bundeswehr's 300,000 conscripts doing military service are considered overweight. [27] [28] A 2007 report declared "excessive bureaucracy" for limiting the time soldiers have to exercise. [28] As a result, an anti-obesity fitness camp opened in Warendorf, North Rhine-Westphalia. [27]

Projekt Kugelblitz

A hospital in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia started Projekt Kugelblitz to help obese children and adolescence. [29] The aim of the program is to "improve the self-perception, so that the participants develop more sensitive to the context of frustration and compulsive eating, and the selection and preparation of foods and of exercise and well-being". [29]

Anti-obesity clinic

An anti-obesity clinic in Wesseling, North Rhine-Westphalia works with a maximum of eight participants for 27 months. [30] The program is about nutrition counseling, physical exercise and behavior therapy. [30] Each week they are cared for in highly structured and interlinked courses and motivated. [30] Up to 80 appointments are intended per year. [30]

School involvement and funding

North Rhine-Westphalia introduced fitness test for students in the second grade due to an increase of children and adolescents being overweight. [31] The students will be weighed and be put through a series of eight exercises. [31] The state government also wants to fund sports for children who have a weight problem. [31]

Forbes 2007 ranking

The following list reflects the percentage of overweight adults aged 15 and over. These are individuals who have individual body mass indexes, which measures weight relative to height, greater than or equal to 25.

RankingCountryPercentage
38 Jordan 60.5
39 Bahamas 60.4
40 Iceland 60.4
41 Nicaragua 60.4
42 Cuba 60.1
43 Germany 60.1
44 Brunei Darussalam 59.8
45 Slovenia 59.8
46 Peru 59.6
47 Vanuatu 59.6
48 Finland 58.7

Source: Forbes.com [32]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Body mass index</span> Relative weight based on mass and height

Body mass index (BMI) is a value derived from the mass (weight) and height of a person. The BMI is defined as the body mass divided by the square of the body height, and is expressed in units of kg/m2, resulting from mass in kilograms (kg) and height in metres (m).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdominal obesity</span> Excess fat around the stomach and abdomen

Abdominal obesity, also known as central obesity and truncal obesity, is the human condition of an excessive concentration of visceral fat around the stomach and abdomen to such an extent that it is likely to harm its bearer's health. Abdominal obesity has been strongly linked to cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other metabolic and vascular diseases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obesity</span> Medical condition in which excess body fat harms health

Obesity is a medical condition, sometimes considered a disease, in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that it can potentially have negative effects on health. People are classified as obese when their body mass index (BMI)—a person's weight divided by the square of the person's height—is over 30 kg/m2; the range 25–30 kg/m2 is defined as overweight. Some East Asian countries use lower values to calculate obesity. Obesity is a major cause of disability and is correlated with various diseases and conditions, particularly cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, certain types of cancer, and osteoarthritis.

Bariatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity.

Obesity in Mexico is a relatively recent phenomenon, having been widespread since the 1980s with the introduction of ultra-processed food into much of the Mexican food market. Prior to that, dietary issues were limited to under and malnutrition, which is still a problem in various parts of the country. Following trends already ongoing in other parts of the world, Mexicans have been foregoing the traditional Mexican diet high in whole grains, fruits, legumes and vegetables in favor of a diet with more animal products and ultra-processed foods. It has seen dietary energy intake and rates of overweight and obese people rise with seven out of ten at least overweight and a third clinically obese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obesity in the United States</span> Overview of obesity in the United States of America

Obesity is common in the United States and is a major health issue associated with numerous diseases, specifically an increased risk of certain types of cancer, coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and cardiovascular disease, as well as significant increases in early mortality and economic costs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Overweight</span> Above a weight considered healthy

Being overweight is having more body fat than is optimally healthy. Being overweight is especially common where food supplies are plentiful and lifestyles are sedentary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epidemiology of obesity</span> Recognition of obesity as an epidemic

Obesity has been observed throughout human history. Many early depictions of the human form in art and sculpture appear obese. However, it was not until the 20th century that obesity became common — so much so that, in 1997, the World Health Organization (WHO) formally recognized obesity as a global epidemic and estimated that the worldwide prevalence of obesity has nearly tripled since 1975. Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2, and in June 2013 the American Medical Association classified it as a disease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obesity in the United Kingdom</span> Overview of obesity in the United Kingdom

Obesity in the United Kingdom is a significant contemporary health concern, with authorities stating that it is one of the leading preventable causes of death. In February 2016, former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt described rising rates of childhood obesity as a "national emergency". The National Childhood Measurement Programme, which measures obesity prevalence among school-age pupils in reception class and year 6, found obesity levels rocketed in both years groups by more than 4 percentage points between 2019–20 and 2020–21, the highest rise since the programme began. Among reception-aged children, those aged four and five, the rates of obesity rose from 9.9% in 2019–20 to 14.4% in 2020–21. By the time they are aged 10 or 11, more than a quarter are obese. In just 12 months, the rate is up from 21% in 2019–20 to 25.5% in 2020–21.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Health in the United Arab Emirates</span>

Cardiovascular disease is the principal cause of death in the UAE, constituting 28 percent of total deaths; other major causes are accidents and injuries, malignancies, and congenital anomalies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obesity in Australia</span> Overview of obesity in Australia

According to 2007 statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), Australia has the third-highest prevalence of overweight adults in the English-speaking world. Obesity in Australia is an "epidemic" with "increasing frequency." The Medical Journal of Australia found that obesity in Australia more than doubled in the two decades preceding 2003, and the unprecedented rise in obesity has been compared to the same health crisis in America. The rise in obesity has been attributed to poor eating habits in the country closely related to the availability of fast food since the 1970s, sedentary lifestyles and a decrease in the labour workforce.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Health in Kuwait</span>

In Kuwait, life expectancy at birth in 2013 was 78 for men and 79 for women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obesity in the Pacific</span> Overview of the causes for and prevalence of obesity in the Pacific

Pacific island nations and associated states make up the top seven on a 2007 list of heaviest countries, and eight of the top ten. In all these cases, more than 70% of citizens aged 15 and over are obese. A mitigating argument is that the BMI measures used to appraise obesity in Caucasian bodies may need to be adjusted for appraising obesity in Polynesian bodies, which typically have larger bone and muscle mass than Caucasian bodies; however, this would not account for the drastically higher rates of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes among these same islanders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obesity in Nauru</span> Overview of the causes for and prevalence of obesity in Nauru

Obesity is a major issue for the Republic of Nauru. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that 94.5% of Nauruans are overweight or obese. The people of Nauru have weight more than 100 kg, with an obesity rate of 71.7%.

Obesity in Austria has been increasingly cited as a major health issue in recent years. Forty per cent of Austrians between 18 and 65 are considered overweight while eleven per cent of those overweight meet the definition of obesity. Forbes.com ranks Austria as the 52nd fattest country in the World with a rate of 57.1%. Approximately 900,000 people are considered obese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obesity in Sweden</span> Health issue in Sweden

Obesity in Sweden has been increasingly cited as a major health issue in recent years. Sweden is the 90th fattest country in the world. In 2009, the number of people who are considered overweight or obese had not increased for the first time in 70 years. Claude Marcus, a leading Swedish nutrition expert from the Karolinska Institutet, stated that one solution is to introduce a fat tax. Folksam refused to insure a 5-year-old girl from Orust. The insurance company refused her insurance based on "serious overweight/obesity". A report showed that children whose parents were better educated had a lower chance of becoming overweight.

Obesity in Italy has been increasingly cited as a major health issue in recent years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obesity in the Middle East and North Africa</span>

Obesity in the Middle East and North Africa is a notable health issue. Out of the 15 fattest nations in the world as of 2014, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), five were located in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Obesity in Pakistan is a health issue that has effected concern only in the past few years. Urbanisation, fast food, changing lifestyles and the fact that traditional Pakistani Cuisine tends to be high in fat and sugar are among the root causes contributing to obesity in the country. Pakistan is ranked 165 in terms of its overweight population, with 22.2% of individuals over the age of 15 crossing the threshold of obesity. This ratio roughly corresponds with other studies, which state one-in-four Pakistani adults as being overweight. In Pakistan, the problem of excess weight is quite high among adults.

Obesity is defined as an abnormal accumulation of body fat, usually 20% or more over an individual's ideal body weight. This is often described as a body mass index (BMI) over 30. However, BMI does not account for whether the excess weight is fat or muscle, and is not a measure of body composition. For most people, however, BMI is an indication used worldwide to estimate nutritional status. Obesity is usually the result of consuming more calories than the body needs and not expending that energy by doing exercise. There are genetic causes and hormonal disorders that cause people to gain significant amounts of weight but this is rare. People in the obese category are much more likely to suffer from fertility problems than people of normal healthy weight.

References

  1. ↑ "A Germany worth living in". German Government. Archived from the original on 4 August 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  2. ↑ "Health Topics, Obesity". World Health Organisation. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 "One in four Germans officially obese". The Local . 15 June 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 Löll, Christiane (27 June 2012). "Hilfe, unser Kind wird dicker und dicker". Die Welt (in German). Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 "Topping the EU Fat Stats, Germany Plans Anti-Obesity Drive". Deutsche Welle. 20 April 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  6. 1 2 3 "Germany launches obesity campaign". BBC. 9 May 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  7. 1 2 "Germans Are Fattest People in Europe, Study Shows". Der Spiegel. 19 April 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  8. 1 2 "Deutsche sind die dicksten Europäer" (in German). Süddeutsche Zeitung. April 18, 2007. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Germany is getting fatter". The Local. 2 June 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  10. 1 2 3 "Clothing makers mulling bigger sizes to fit tubbier Teutons". The Local. 22 April 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  11. 1 2 Merkel, Wolfgang W (14 June 2012). "So krank sind die Deutschen wirklich". Die Welt (in German). Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  12. ↑ "Overweight and obesity - BMI statistics". ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  13. 1 2 3 "Italien hat die dicksten Kinder in Europa". Die Welt . 13 November 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  14. 1 2 3 "Die wenigsten Deutschen haben Normalgewicht". Die Welt . 10 June 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  15. ↑ "Generation XXL". stern.de (in German). Retrieved 2021-11-03.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 "Wie gesund lebt Deutschland?". Die Welt . 10 August 2010. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "New obesity report says world is fatter, rounder, less productive". Deutsche Welle. February 4, 2011. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  18. ↑ "New Study Shows Extent of Germany's Weight Problem". Deutsche Welle. 30 January 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  19. 1 2 3 "Fast jedes Kinder-Produkt ist zu süß und zu fett". Die Welt (in German). 13 March 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  20. ↑ Driessen, Barbara (29 July 2012). "800.000 Kinder in Deutschland sind fettleibig". Die Welt (in German). Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  21. 1 2 3 "Also doch, die Gene sind schuld am Übergewicht!". Die Welt (in German). 14 June 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  22. 1 2 "Germany's young adults are too fat to work". The Local. December 16, 2008. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  23. ↑ "Obesity linked to lower sperm count in young men". Reuters. August 11, 2010. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 "Doppelt so viele Typ-1-Diabetiker wie vor 15 Jahren". Die Welt . 14 November 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  25. 1 2 "Übergewicht ist ein Motor für Krebserkrankungen". Die Welt (in German). 15 March 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  26. ↑ "Zu viel Bauchfett bei Senioren: Weniger Intelligenz". Augsburger Allgemeine (in German). 23 March 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  27. 1 2 "German army goes to war against its flabby troops". Telegraph. 9 July 2001. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  28. 1 2 "German soldiers too fat to fight". The Local. 4 March 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  29. 1 2 Sting, Jan (22 April 2005). "Projekt "Kugelblitz" gegen Fettleibigkeit". Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger (in German). Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  30. 1 2 3 4 "Kölner Spezialklinik hilft Übergewichtigen". Die Welt . 2 August 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  31. 1 2 3 Preuß, Roland (20 May 2014). "Antreten zum Fitnesstest". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  32. ↑ "World's Fattest Countries". Forbes.com . 8 February 2007. Archived from the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.