Collage mit Dehnübung, frischem Obst und Gemüse, gesunden Lebensmitteln und dem Schriftzug „Sport und Gesundheit – Teil 2“

How active is Germany really? - Part 2: Sports, health effects, and economic relevance

Sport is Fun, Keeps You Fit – and Has a Far Bigger Impact Than Many Realise In Part 1, we explored what physical activity really means, what the WHO recommends, and how sport plays a crucial role in keeping the population moving. Now, let’s take a closer look at which sports drive Germany’s activity levels, the health effects of exercise – and not least, the economic side of staying active.

Which sports get Germany moving the most? 🏆

Some sports stand out in terms of their contribution to meeting the WHO’s activity recommendations – measured by duration, frequency, and intensity. The following activities contribute the most to endurance performance:

  • Cycling: 15% of endurance-related minutes
  • Fitness (e.g. equipment, classes): 14%
  • Running/Jogging: 9%
  • Hiking: 7%
  • Football: 5%

Together, that already accounts for 50% of all sport-related endurance activity. The remaining half is spread across 56 other sports – from dancing to gymnastics to Nordic walking. This variety shows: there isn’t one sport for everyone – but there is something for everyone.
Training intensity also varies:

Football, fitness, and dancing account for particularly high shares of intense minutes.
Cycling and running are moderate – but often practised more regularly and over longer periods.

Movement Means Health – Inactivity is Expensive

Regular exercise clearly protects against:

  • Cardiovascular disease,
  • Type 2 diabetes,
  • Obesity,
  • Certain types of cancer (e.g. breast and bowel cancer).

But: not moving enough comes at a price – and not just to one’s quality of life.
According to the WHO, physical inactivity is responsible for 6% of all deaths worldwide. In Europe, around one million people die each year as a result of inactivity – 10% of all deaths.

In Germany, roughly 55% of the population don’t reach the recommended level of activity – with clear financial consequences:

  • Direct healthcare costs (e.g. treatments, medication): approx. €2.0 billion annually
  • Indirect costs (e.g. productivity loss): up to €12.8 billion
  • Total cost (Cebr study, 2015): approx. €14.5 billion per year

Not all related diseases are captured in these figures, as they’re often hard to attribute directly.


But Sport Can Also Come with Costs

Sport protects against illness – but it can also cause injury. Hospital and outpatient treatments due to sports injuries also contribute to the economic burden:

  • 1 million in-patient sports injuries per year
  • 3.8 million outpatient treatments
  • Estimated €6.5 billion in direct costs annually
  • Plus €11 billion in productivity losses from sick days

These costs are easier to measure – and treatment usually leads to recovery, unlike chronic diseases caused by long-term inactivity.
Still, studies show that the health-economic benefits of exercise outweigh the costs. In Austria, for instance, a clear positive balance was identified. The Robert Koch Institute also concludes: more movement = lower health spending.


🏛️ Promoting Movement Means Shaping Society

Given all this, it’s clear: movement – and especially sport – isn’t just a private hobby. It’s a societal responsibility. The WHO outlines key levers for encouraging more people to be active:

  • Cities designed for movement (e.g. safe cycle paths, green spaces)
  • Access regardless of age, gender or income
  • Support for low-threshold sports offerings
  • Integrating movement into schools, workplaces and daily routines

Conclusion: Movement Connects – and Every Minute Counts

Whether you cycle to work, hit the gym in the evening, or just go for the occasional jog – if you move, you can be proud. You’re doing something good for your body, your mind, your environment – and society as a whole.
Movement isn’t a competition. It’s not about being faster, stronger, or more consistent. What matters is that we move together, support one another, and create an environment where everyone feels welcome – whether you’re a pro athlete, beginner or returning after a break.
So: be open, share motivation, celebrate small victories. And don’t just focus on the numbers – but on the impact you can make, inside yourself and around you.
Because movement begins with a single step. And the best way to take it – is together. 🐰❤️

Sources:

https://www.bisp-sportinfrastruktur.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Sportentwicklung/who_empfehlung.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=1

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