Trends in Physical Activity Behavior of Children and Adolescents in Germany
Physical activity is essential for both physical and mental health from childhood and adolescence. It serves as a preventive measure against diseases such as type II diabetes, colorectal cancer, and heart attacks well into adulthood. If children adopt health-promoting movement behaviors early in life, they are more likely to remain active as adults.
According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) international physical activity recommendations, children and adolescents should engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity daily (e.g., cycling at 15 km/h). Studies indicate that achieving this target every single day is not necessarily required; a weekly average is also beneficial. Additionally, at least three days per week should include vigorous activities that enhance endurance and muscle strength while engaging major muscle groups. Such activities typically result in a significant increase in heart rate. Furthermore, limiting sedentary time is recommended. Despite the clear health benefits, many children and adolescents worldwide, including in Germany, do not meet these physical activity guidelines.
An international analysis based on data from 298 population-based surveys found that 22.4% of boys and 15.3% of girls aged 11 to 17 do not meet the movement recommendations. In Germany, the rates are slightly lower, at 20.3% for boys and 12.1% for girls. Gender differences in movement behavior are evident, with girls being statistically less active than boys. Moreover, there is a positive correlation between socioeconomic background and physical activity: children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds tend to be less active.
The development of children's and adolescents' movement behavior has been examined in multiple studies, particularly in the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. Data from the 2009/10 and 2017/18 survey waves indicate slight declines in meeting movement recommendations and engaging in sports activities among both boys and girls. Additionally, the proportion of children and adolescents with low physical activity levels has slightly increased. However, these data were collected before COVID-19. The lockdowns had a significant impact on movement behavior, with studies reporting a reduction of 10.8 to 91 minutes of physical activity per day.
The HBSC study is a cross-sectional study conducted every four years in schools, surveying students aged approximately 11, 13, and 15—corresponding to grades 5, 7, and 9 in Germany. The surveys were conducted in the school years 2009/10, 2013/14, and most recently in 2022. Apart from North Rhine-Westphalia, students from all over Germany participated, totaling more than 21,000 respondents.
Students' physical activity was assessed by asking how many days in the past week they had been physically active for at least 60 minutes. Three indicators were derived: daily activity (meeting the movement recommendation), low activity (active for zero to two days), and high activity (active for five or more days). Additionally, sports activity was measured by asking how often they engaged in sports in their free time that made them breathless or sweaty. Responses ranged from “every day” to “never” and were categorized into “at least four days per week” and “less than four days per week.”
The 2022 HBSC study results show that 10.8% of girls, 20.9% of boys, and 12.4% of gender-diverse adolescents meet the WHO physical activity recommendations. Older adolescents are less likely to meet this guideline. Furthermore, 49.6% of 11-year-olds engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity on five to seven days per week, while only 23.6% of 15-year-old gender-diverse adolescents do so. One-third of girls and half of gender-diverse adolescents are physically active on fewer than three days per week. Boys, however, show no age-related differences. Almost half of boys (49.8%) engage in sports at least four days per week, compared to only 28.2% of girls and 19.1% of gender-diverse adolescents.
Over time, fewer girls have met the WHO movement recommendations, although there was a slight increase from 2017/18 to 2022. The proportion of girls with low physical activity levels increased by 8.7 percentage points from 2009/10 to 2022, while the rate for boys remained stable. High physical activity levels declined by 6.1% among girls and 0.6% among boys. A decline in sports activity was also observed, particularly among girls between 2013/14 and 2017/18.
In summary, girls engage in less physical activity and sports than boys. Physical activity declines with age for both genders. Gender-diverse adolescents have the lowest levels of physical and sports activity. Between 2009/10 and 2022, there were only minor changes in the proportion of children and adolescents meeting movement recommendations and engaging in high levels of physical activity. Only one-tenth of girls and one-fifth of boys achieve the recommended 60 minutes of daily movement. Physical inactivity has increased, particularly among girls. There remains a strong need for effective movement promotion measures in childhood and adolescence. Gender-diverse adolescents are particularly inactive, with only 4.5% of 15-year-old gender-diverse adolescents meeting the movement recommendation.
Data from other studies and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic indicate a further decline in movement times. Significant gender differences in sports activity persist, with boys being more frequently active than girls.
As a result, there is an urgent need for targeted movement promotion measures to increase physical activity among children and adolescents.
Sources:
Bilz, L., Sudeck, G., Bucksch, J., Klocke, A., Kolip, P., Melzer, W., Sieberer-Ravens, U., & Richter, M. (Hrsg. ). (2016). Schule und Gesundheit Ergebnisse des WHO-Jugendgesundheitssurveys Health Behaviour in School-aged Children. Beltz Juventa.
Bucksch, J., Häußler, A., Schneider, K., Finne, E., Schmidt, K., Dadacynski, K., & Sudeck, G. (2020). Bewegungs- und Ernährungsverhalten von älteren Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland – Querschnittergebnisse der HBSC-Studie 2017/18 und Trends. Journal of Health Monitoring, 5 (3). Source
Bucksch, J., Möckel, J., Kaman, A., & Sudeck, G. (2024). Bewegungsverhalten von älteren Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland – Ergebnisse der HBSC-Studie 2022 und Zeitverläufe seit 2009/10. Journal of Health Monitoring, 9 (1). Source