Berlin - People with a modest education are more likely to be overweight than the better educated, according to a survey on German eating habits released Wednesday. The study, conducted among nearly 20,000 people aged from 14-80, showed that two-thirds of German men and 51 per cent of German women were overweight.
Consumer Affairs Minister Horst Seehofer said 70 per cent of those with the lowest qualification in Germany's three-tier school system suffered from overweight compared to 35 per cent of those with a higher leaving certificate.
As a result, the risk of becoming overweight or obese declined in proportion to the level of income, Seehofer said in presenting the study in Berlin.
The minister said there were proportionately fewer overweight young people than older ones. He said 75 per cent of the 14-18 age group had a normal weight, but 10 per cent of young women suffered from weight loss.
Experts attributed the weight problems to the fact that most Germans did not know enough about the nutritional value of what they eat.
In addition to eating habits, the study also took into consideration lifestyle, sporting activities and consumption in general.
The government plans to use the results for a "nutrition plan of action" designed to make Germans more aware of healthy living.
In May 2007, the government approved a programme called "Fit instead of Fat," designed to cut back obesity rates by 2020, particularly among children.
The plan calls for healthier food to be served in schools and hospitals and more exercise for children. Seehofer's ministry said a poor diet and lack of exercise were making German children ill.
Children did not have enough exercise because they spent on average five hours a day watching television, on computers or playing with games consoles, the minister said.
Figures released by the International Association for the Study of Obesity last year showed more than 75 per cent of men in Germany, and 59 per cent of women were overweight.
The association based its calculations on the body mass index (BMI) - an individual's body weight divided by the square of his or her height. People with a BMI of 30 or more are classed as obese, while those with a BMI of 25-29.9 are considered overweight.
Media reports said one in five Germans has a BMI of 30 or more. The higher the BMI is the more likely the risk of heart problems or diabetes.
