The One Secret That Keeps This Bread-Loving Nation Slim

When arriving in Germany, the first thing you might notice is that you’re in a land of giants – very thin, very fit giants. Though Germans love their cars and have more types of bread than any other country, only 17% of the population is obese, compared to 33% of Americans or 27% of Britons. So how do they stay so thin?

It’s partly to do with physical activity…

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that Germans love to go hiking. In fact, if a German person ever asks you if you want to go for a Wanderung, make sure you get all the details before you agree. A walk for a German person is not a mile loop around the neighbourhood, but rather a brisk 10km (6.2 mile) ramble that is likely to include ascending an Alp and drinking copious amounts of schnapps.

It’s also true that most middle class Germans have some sort of physical activity-based hobby that they participate in weekly: ball room dancing, cycling (either to work or for long country rides on well-paved roads and paths), football with friends or something more exotic like badminton or fencing.

… and partly to do with their approach to food…

Thanks to supermarket chains like Lidl and Aldi, quality food in Germany is also easily available and significantly cheaper than equivalent food in Belgium, France or Italy. Organic food can be expensive, but it is ubiquitous enough that it is a real choice for most people with a proper job.

Germans don’t tend to eat their big meal in the evening. Most big companies have an on-site canteen where employees eat their hot meal for the day. In the evening, it’s Brotzeit (bread time), where people have a couple slices of dark spelt or rye bread with some pâté, smoked meat and cheese with a beer or some wine.

Germans also love cake, though it is much less sweet, and smaller in size, than American dessert,s and they also drink around 35% more beer per person than Americans, both of which ought to pack on the pounds. But they don’t – why not?

… but the real answer you’ve been waiting for is…

The real reason Germans are some of the thinnest and fittest people in the world is that they walk a lot in their day-to-day lives. Yes, it’s really that simple – while some 80% of Americans have a car, in Germany, the figure is closer to 50%. This means that the average total of steps taken per day by Germans is around 10,000, as opposed to America’s 5,000. All that walking really adds up, to the tune of 1,400km (870 miles) a year, equivalent to the distance between Brussels and Barcelona.

So if you want to be as slim as the Germans, first make sure you are at least 175cm (5ft 9in) tall, then ditch the white bread, embrace the cake and get those boots-a-walking.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.