Overview

• The 2025 Fitnessbarometer shows a record 15% of children in Baden-Württemberg are overweight and 6.5% are obese, a 2.8% increase from the previous year.
• Motor skills among children have slightly improved since the pandemic slump but remain well below 2012–2019 levels, particularly in speed, agility, and endurance.
• A sharp rise in overweight rates begins at age six, coinciding with the transition from kindergarten to primary school, where reduced physical activity is a key factor.
• Experts attribute the obesity surge to increased screen time and insufficient exercise, recommending at least one hour of structured daily physical activity in schools.
• In 2024, over 7,500 children participated in motor skill tests organized by the Turnbeutelbande Initiative, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and intervention.