Saxony-Anhalt preschool obesity drops to pre-pandemic levels after years of effort
Saxony-Anhalt preschool obesity drops to pre-pandemic levels after years of effort
Childhood obesity among preschoolers back to pre-COVID levels - Saxony-Anhalt preschool obesity drops to pre-pandemic levels after years of effort
Obesity rates among preschoolers in Saxony-Anhalt have fallen back to pre-pandemic levels, according to the latest school entry medical checks. The 2025/2026 data shows 6.1% of children affected, reversing a rise seen during COVID-19. The findings come from a study of around 15,500 youngsters across the state.
Before the pandemic, Saxony-Anhalt recorded a 6.0% obesity rate among preschoolers in 2018. This figure climbed to about 8% during the health crisis. The latest figures now match those from seven years ago.
The improvement coincides with broader efforts by German states to tackle childhood obesity. Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg have rolled out measures since 2021. These include expanded movement programmes in nurseries, such as Bavaria's Bewegung macht stark, which received 20% more funding. North Rhine-Westphalia introduced mandatory nutrition guidelines in 2022, aiming to cut sugary products by 30%.
A national network called Gesund ins Leben also launched in 2023 to address rising obesity rates, which had jumped from 8% in 2019 to 12% in 2024. Pilot regions report stabilised trends, with Saxony-Anhalt now showing clear progress.
The 2025/2026 results mark a return to earlier obesity levels in Saxony-Anhalt. State and federal programmes appear to have contributed to the decline. Officials will continue monitoring the data as part of wider public health strategies.
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