Individuals in Germany spend over ten hours daily seated
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A new report from the German Health Insurance (DKV) has highlighted a concerning trend in the nation's sedentary behaviour, with the average person spending over ten hours a day sitting.
The report, which was examined alongside the German Sports University Cologne and the University of Würzburg, found that the average workday sitting time in Germany has increased from nine hours and 58 minutes to approximately ten hours and 13 minutes over the past two years. This is nearly two hours more than a decade ago.
The report also revealed that the average time spent sitting at work has increased by approximately 45 minutes, with people now spending three and a half hours sitting at their desks. The average time spent on a computer or tablet in Germany has increased by approximately 37 minutes, amounting to one and a half hours of screen time.
Despite the increase in screen time, the average time spent in front of the TV in Germany has remained around two and a half hours. The report surveyed more than 2800 people between February 11 and March 17 for the data.
However, the report did not provide new information about the German Health Insurance, German Sports University Cologne, University of Würzburg, or the surveyed population.
The DKV report stated that this increase in sitting time is a cause for concern, as only 2% of the German population lead a healthy lifestyle. Established scientific knowledge suggests that increasing average sitting time is linked to higher risks of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and premature mortality, independent of physical activity levels.
Prolonged sitting negatively affects metabolic health markers and can increase all-cause mortality risk. Health authorities recommend reducing daily sitting time through regular breaks, standing desks, and promoting active lifestyles to mitigate these risks.
For precise and up-to-date statistics specific to Germany's sitting time trends over the last decade, and detailed epidemiological data on health impacts, one would need access to national health surveys or peer-reviewed studies from German public health institutions (e.g., Robert Koch Institute) or global health databases.
If you require assistance in searching for studies or national reports on sitting time and health in Germany, I can help you with that.
- To combat the rising risks associated with prolonged sitting, vocational training programs could incorporate workplace-wellness initiatives that promote regular breaks and the use of standing desks, improving employees' mental-health, physical health, and adherence to the community policy of healthy lifestyles.
- Encouraging health-and-wellness awareness in the community through education and the implementation of science-backed strategies, such as vocational training on workplace ergonomics and strategies to mitigate the negative effects of prolonged sitting, could potentially contribute to a reduction in average sitting time and the promotion of a healthier German population.
