2021 DKV Report 2021 for the first time with metropole rankings: differences in nutrition, nicotine and alcohol consumption

For the sixth time, the DKV Deutsche Krankenversicherung AG [German Health Insurance] and the Cologne German Sports College ask: how healthy is the lifestyle in Germany? This led to a view in selected metropolitan areas, with interesting results.

The DKV report has examined Germans’ lifestyle since 2010, with a complete examination of their health and movement behaviours. The latest version, conducted from March to May 2021, has been extended by surveying individual cities in the German states. Hamburg, Cologne, Munich, Berlin and Dresden were selected.

“One should always consider regional differences in evaluating a balanced and healthy diet,” says Ingo Froböse, Professor at the German Sports College in Cologne and scientific director of these studies. “Germans in the north have different eating habits than those in the south. And that is why concepts for healthy nutrition must be adjusted to fit these differences. This is an important reason why we have focused on recognising regional differences in our survey.”

“The new metropolitan ranking is a colourful and insightful extension of our DKV Report, says Clemens Muth, Chairman of the DKV. A balanced nutrition, sufficient exercise and not smoking are beneficial for a healthy, long life. We Germans can clearly learn a lot from one another here.”

Hamburg residents prefer fruit and vegetables, while Munich and Cologne residents prefer meat.

The cities are relatively similar to one another with nutrition: Cologne and Dresden most frequently hit the nutritional benchmark (both with 54 percent). They are followed by Munich (53 percent), Hamburg (52 percent) and Berlin (50 percent). A look into the details nevertheless shows differences: 72 percent of Hamburg residents say that they eat fruits and vegetables daily, while Munich (55 percent) and Cologne (57 percent) residents are less likely to turn to these vitamin-rich foods.

On the other hand, those from Munich (22 percent) and Cologne (25 percent) most frequently admitted that they eat meat every day. The number is only 8 percent in Dresden, 10 percent in Hamburg and 12 percent in Berlin. Those from Cologne are healthier in that only 11 percent of those surveyed eat snacks or sweets “every day” or “several times a day”, including chocolate, a slice of cake or chips (Hamburg: 27.6 percent, Munich: 31.1 percent, Berlin: 28 percent and Dresden: 32.2 percent).

The embers are dimmest in Dresden

About a fourth of Germans smoke cigarettes. Those who smoke the least are those from Dresden. They have the highest number of non-smokers in this survey. 89 percent of those surveyed meet this non-smoking benchmark. The number is 81 percent in Cologne, followed by Hamburg (79 percent) and Berlin (73 percent).

Cologne residents have the best marks for “Alcohol consumption”

93 percent of Cologne residents reach this benchmark, and therefore deal well with alcohol consumption. In Hamburg and Berlin, the number is 84 percent. Munich (70 percent) and Dresden (66 percent) are worse.

Comparing drinking habits reveals that Dresdeners prefer consuming beer (25.3 percent) “daily” or “several times a week” more than wine (24.6 percent). Cologne residents slightly prefer wine over beer (4.2 versus 3.6 percent). Munich residents behave differently: they consume beer more often (20.9 percent) than wine (14.5 percent). Hamburg residents’ consumption is 14.5 percent beer versus 15.8 percent wine. Berliners drink more wine (18.3 percent) than beer (12.0 percent).

Spirits are drunk much less often (Hamburg: 1.3 percent; Cologne: 1.1 percent; Munich: 1.4 percent; Berlin: 1.2 percent; Dresden: 5.1 percent – each “daily” or “several times per week”).

About the report:

Ipsos surveyed altogether 2,800 people from March 23 to May 7, 2021 for the 2021 DKV Report to determine lifestyles across Germany. Some of those surveyed were asked this year to give a self-assessment in the framework of the guideline and computer-supported telephone interviews. At least 50 people were surveyed in each city. The respective statements were not weighted for the metropoles; this was only done for the entire country. This provided a national comparison of data for individual cities.

Graphics with results from the metropolitan survey can be downloaded at www.ergo.com/de/Newsroom.

Further 2021 DKV report results will be published on October 11 at 11:00am at www.ergo.com/DKV-Report. One can log in to a virtual press conference with Clemens Muth and Ingo Froböse at mediarelations@ergo.de.

Background on the methods

Ten questions with predefined answer options about nutrition were asked. These followed the recommendations of the German Nutrition Society (DGE). This didn't deal with nutritional protocols with exact quantities. Rather, they dealt with more general questions which considered the quality and weekly quantity in nutritional behaviours. The nutritional points were divided in accordance with DGE recommendations. A benchmark for healthy nutrition is reached if 20 or more of a total of 30 possible points are achieved.

Smoking: This benchmark was achieved if one was a non-smoker.

Drinking frequency and the quantity of alcoholic drinks consumed was used to evaluate alcohol consumption behaviours. This separately considered beer, wine, sparkling wine and hard liquor. Healthy alcohol consumption behaviour was achieved if an occasional glass of wine or beer was consumed or alcohol was not consumed at all.