Bad Habits
January 30, 2008
Germany is facing more of a challenge in the battle of the bulge than first thought, according to a new study on eating habits in the country. The survey showed that more than half of all Germans were too fat, with two-thirds of all men and 51 percent of women officially overweight.
But in another shocking revelation, the National Consumption Study has shown that 10 percent of German girls under 17 years of age were underweight and were not eating enough to remain healthy.
The study showed that the difference between the consumption of men and women was striking. While almost one-third of 18- to 29-year-old men were overweight, every tenth young woman was too thin.
Germans suffering from calorific ignorance
It also shows that the majority of Germans have very little knowledge about what they eat and what effect the food has on their bodies. Only 10 percent of the interviewees had any idea how many calories they needed each day or how many they consumed.
The study's figures were based on the body mass index (BMI) of an overweight person being between 25 and 30. This BMI is calculated by dividing an individual's bodyweight by the square of their height. The higher the BMI, the higher the risk that the person will develop an illness such as diabetes or heart disease.
A separate report in the Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper stated that every fifth German had a BMI of over 30.
Over 20,000 Germans between 14 and 80 took part in the National Consumption Study and divulged information on eating behavior, sporting activities, shopping practices and lifestyle.
Studies show extent of challenge facing Germany
The last government survey on obesity in Germany, taken last May, stated that around 37 million adults and around 2 million children in Germany were overweight. One-fourth of adult Germans suffered from cardiovascular diseases, while there were around 4 million diabetics in the country.
One in five German women and one in seven men reportedly suffered from chronic back pain. The annual costs of treating nutrition-related illnesses amounted to 70 billion euros ($95.3 billion), which was 30 percent of Germany's overall health costs recorded at the time.
The government survey followed on from a similar one done by the International Association for the Study of Obesity, in 2007. It found that among EU countries, Germany had the most overweight women and men. Among adults, the study found that 58.9 percent of German women were overweight; 75.4 percent of men tipped the scales.
Beer, fatty foods and a lack of physical activity are the main culprits behind Germans' expanding waistlines, according to experts, and the rates of obese and overweight Germans now match those of Americans.