Saxony-Anhalt battles Germany's worst obesity crisis with new digital tools

Saxony-Anhalt now holds the highest obesity rate in Germany, with 13.4 percent of its population affected. The issue is particularly pronounced in Mansfeld-Südharz, where 15.6 percent of residents live with obesity. In response, health insurer AOK has launched a free online coach to support sustainable weight loss through structured guidance and self-motivation techniques.

The AOK's online obesity coach offers users a way to track their progress while addressing key areas such as nutrition, exercise, and stress management. Developed with input from five individuals living with obesity, the programme also incorporates the WOOP method—a goal-setting technique designed to boost motivation. This digital tool complements broader efforts to tackle obesity across the region.

Since 2021, Saxony-Anhalt has expanded its KiKi programme, which promotes healthy eating and physical activity in childcare centres. Nationally, the Federal Ministry of Health introduced the IN FORM initiative in 2022, funding over 100 regional projects aimed at reducing obesity. From 2024, the ZuSaF programme will further target sugar, salt, and fat reduction in several states, including Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia.

Data reveals a stark gender disparity in Saxony-Anhalt, where 15 percent of women are obese compared to 11.7 percent of men. With more than 290,000 people diagnosed with obesity in the state, AOK is urging stronger policy measures alongside individual support to reverse the trend.

The national obesity rate stands at 10.2 percent, but Saxony-Anhalt's figures remain significantly higher. The AOK's online coach and regional programmes like KiKi and IN FORM aim to provide practical solutions. However, health officials stress that long-term success will depend on combining personal initiatives with broader policy changes.