Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents
Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents
Physical inactivity and prolonged sedentary behavior represent major public health challenges both globally and in Germany. Children and adolescents spend approximately 70% of their daily time sitting and only a small proportion meet the recommended daily levels of physical activity necessary for maintaining good health. These sedentary patterns contribute significantly to chronic degenerative diseases and negatively affect physical, mental, and social health.
To promote an active lifestyle among children and adolescents, it is crucial to understand the opportunities and barriers to physical activity and to assess the proportion of children meeting physical activity guidelines. Furthermore, evaluating the extent to which governments support the promotion of physical activity is essential.
The aim of this project is to develop and disseminate a target-group-oriented and evidence-based informational brochure (Report Card) that presents the physical activity and sedentary behavior of children and adolescents in Germany, as well as factors influencing these behaviors. By providing this information, the Report Card seeks to raise awareness among a wide range of public health stakeholders—such as ministries, schools, and organizations—that influence the physical activity environments of children and adolescents. The availability of such data is necessary for stakeholders to develop and implement tailored interventions that foster active lifestyles in youth populations.
Report Card Initiative
The Report Card Germany serves as a national physical activity “report card,” presenting and grading the current status of physical activity and sedentary behavior among children and adolescents, as well as relevant influencing factors. It evaluates ten key indicators using data from scientific studies, national surveys, and reports from governmental and non-governmental organizations. These indicators are assessed by a network of researchers from across Germany using a standardized grading system. This provides a concise and transparent overview of the current state of physical activity promotion in Germany and highlights areas where further action is needed.
Regular updates of the Report Card (every 2–3 years) enable continuous monitoring of trends in physical activity and sedentary behavior, as well as the progress of physical activity promotion efforts.
The Report Card is part of an international initiative originally developed by Active Healthy Kids Canada (AHKC). Many countries now participate in the project and have produced national report cards that communicate this information to key stakeholders (www.activehealthykids.org). Evaluations from Canada demonstrate the high potential of the Report Card to engage relevant stakeholders. Between 2004 and 2015, more than 120,000 printed and 200,000 digital copies were distributed in Canada. The initiative also received extensive media coverage, reaching over 1 billion media impressions. By supporting dissemination and uptake across sectors, the Report Card can make a significant contribution to increasing physical activity levels among children (Tremblay, Barnes & Bonne, 2014).
Para-Report Card 2026
In 2026, Germany will publish its first Para-Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents with Disabilities. Building on the methodology established in the previous two national Report Cards on physical activity, this new initiative will place a specific focus on promoting physical activity among children and adolescents with disabilities and chronic health conditions.
Project Leads: Prof. Dr. Anne Kerstin Reimers (FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg), Prof. Dr. Yolanda Demetriou (University of Tübingen)
Research Team: Dr. Franziska Beck
Funding: Schwenninger Krankenkassen (2018–2022)
Publikation List:
Demetriou, Y., Bucksch, J., Albrecht, C., Finger, J., Hebestreit, A., Mutz, M., Schmidt, S., Vogt, L., Völker, K., Woll, A., & Reimers, A.K. (2019). Results from Germany’s 2018 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents. German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research. https://doi.org/1010.1007/s12662-019-00578-1
Demetriou, Y., Hebestreit, A., Reimers, A.K., Schlund, A., Niessner, C., Schmidt, S., Finger, J. D., Mutz, M., Völker, K., Vogt, L., Woll, A., & Bucksch, J. (2018). Results from Germany’s 2018 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 15(S2), S363-S365. https://doi.org/1010.1123/jpah.2018-0538
Demetriou, Y., Beck, F., Sturm, D., Abu-Omar, K., Forberger, S., Hebestreit, A., Hohmann, A., Hülse, H., Kläber, M., Kobel, S., Köhler, K., König, S., Krug, S., Manz, K., Messing, S., Mutz, M., Niermann, C., Niessner, C., Schienkiewitz, A., . . . Reimers, A. K. (2024). Germany’s 2022 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents. German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12662-024-00946-6
Additional Links:
Bewegungszeugnis 2018: https://stiftung-gesundarbeiter.de/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/mvma_bewegungszeugnis2018_ansicht_meyeran181022.pdf
Bewegungszeugnis 2022: https://stiftung-gesundarbeiter.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/bewegungszeugnis_2022_final.pdf
References:
Tremblay, M.S., Barnes, J. D. & Jonne, J. C. (2014). Impact of the Active Healthy Kids Canada report Card: a 10-year analysis. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 11(S1), S3-20.