Germany’s 2022 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents

Abstract

The German Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents 2022 provides a summary and a comprehensive evaluation of physical activity levels and correlated indicators using the Active Healthy Kids Canada grading framework. The 2022 German Report Card, established by the Active Healthy Kids Germany (AHK Germany) expert panel, describes to what degree German youth meets the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behavior. Additionally, distal and proximal determinants, settings, as well as strategies and investments towards improvements in physical activity were analyzed by assigning grades to the eleven Report Card indicators using established benchmarks. Most children and adolescents in Germany failed to meet the WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behavior and engaged in high sitting durations. Therefore, we assigned poor grades for Overall Physical Activity (D−) and slightly higher grades for Sedentary Behavior (C). Moderately positive scores were observed for specific physical activity behaviors such as Active Transportation (C) and Non-organized Physical Activity and Active Play (C−). Organized Sport Participation was the only behavioral indicator receiving a good grade (B−). Grades were moderately positive for Settings and Sources of Influence (Family and Friends: C; School: B−; Community and Environment: B−). For the indicators within the group of Individual Characteristics, we were able to assign a grade to Physical Fitness (D+), whereas the indicator Overweight and Obesity was not rated (INC). We also assigned an incomplete grade for the Government indicator due to the need for objective criteria for grading policies, indicating data gaps potentially crucial for future research.