The figure is a slap in the face for all the diet products, fitness programmes and nutrition gurus: 52 percent of Germans are overweight - and the trend is rising. Something is going wrong in the country. The latest figures from the Federal Statistical Office confirm this trend: anyone with a body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight. Obesity begins at a BMI of over 30, which means that a 1.80 metre tall man is considered overweight from 81 kilograms and very overweight from 97 kilograms. This is less of a problem for most bikers. They rarely carry a little belly around with them. But in autumn and winter, an unwelcome flab tends to form under the jersey. We've put together a ten-point plan to help you get rid of your love handles in a relaxed manner. If you integrate these points into your everyday life over a period of three weeks, you will definitely lose pounds. You should pay particular attention to the nutritional tips, as these are the key to losing weight. No amount of training in the world can compensate for a poor diet. If you stop off at a fast-food takeaway after five hours on your bike, you'll usually have more energy than you've burnt.
Develop awareness instead of radical diets
But don't be too hard on yourself. Especially not now, when the plates of biscuits are waiting. In our interviews, even seasoned professional bikers Wolfram Kurschat and Daniel Geismayr tell you that they don't count calories all year round. What counts is that you develop an awareness of a healthy lifestyle over time. This means you don't have to follow strict dietary rules and will find it easier to reduce or stabilise your weight.
Germany - a butter churn in figures
52 %
More than half of Germans carry too much around with them. The frightening thing: Projections by
scientists show that this figure will rise to 80 per cent by 2030 due to demographic change.
62 %
It's tough, but it's true: men in Germany have more on their ribs than women. The risk of heart attacks and diabetes is therefore particularly high among men.
43 %
Not much better than their male counterparts: Almost half of German women are too fat. This increases the risk of strokes and diabetes. Particularly at risk: Women who also smoke and/or take the contraceptive pill.
The ten-point plan
Do you want to get rid of that annoying flab? You'll find the solution here. Our ten-point plan will guide you step by step to your desired weight.
Interview with MTB pro Daniel Geißmayr
BIKE: You came second in the BIKE Transalp. Did your diet play a part in your success?
Daniel Geißmayr: Well, first of all the training, of course. But body weight also played an important role. I used to weigh a bit more. By reducing my body weight, I was definitely able to climb better.
Have you stuck to a strict diet?
Not at all. It is much more important to develop an awareness of good nutrition. Vegetables, good meat and the right carbohydrates are crucial. One thing you should remember: It's not the training, but the diet that determines weight loss success.
Don't you ever have the munchies?
Sure, and you should give in to that. I like to treat myself to a lot of sugar once a week. If you snack every day, your insulin levels go on a rollercoaster and you tend to always have a small calorie surplus.
And in training?
Carbohydrates have their place here. The rule is: the harder and longer you ride, the more they belong in the tank.
