Healthy children in focus: Dahme-Spreewald's health conference inspires!

Healthy children in focus: Dahme-Spreewald's health conference inspires!

On November 11, 2025, the first health conference in the Dahme-Spreewald district took place at the Funkerberg educational campus in Königs Wusterhausen. Under the motto “Growing up healthy in Dahme-Spreewald – What moves our children and young people?” Over 100 participants from the areas of healthcare, education, social services, science, administration and politics gathered. Niederlausitz Current reports that District Administrator Sven Herzberger opened the conference and emphasized the shared responsibility for the health of children and young people.

A central theme was the worrying development of the movement among young people in the district. Health coordinator Elisa Florstedt pointed out that many children and young people suffer from a lack of exercise. The Child and Adolescent Health Service presented alarming data about the increasing problem of obesity. During the conference there was also an exciting lecture by Prof. Dr. Christian Andrä from the University of Applied Sciences for Sport and Management Leipzig, who presented practical ideas on “moving learning”. The need to integrate more exercise into everyday school life was highlighted.

Dialogue forums and exchange

The event offered four dialogue forums that enabled exchanges about positive approaches, challenges and collaborations. It became clear that there are different health promotion offering structures in the district: While the northern part has many offerings, the structures in the south are sparserly populated. Particular emphasis was placed on children at risk of poverty, particularly through daycare centers and schools. It has been shown that children's desire to exercise decreases as they get older and inclusive sports activities have so far been rare.

Another central point was the voluntary commitment and mobility of children, which are crucial for comprehensive health promotion. Based on the results of the conference, concrete measures and goals will now be developed. A look ahead to the next health conference, which will deal with the topic of “mental health in children and young people”, creates anticipation and shows that work is continuing to improve the living conditions for the young generation.

Exercise and nutrition at school

In order to combat the problems surrounding lack of exercise and obesity, it is important that schools act as meeting places for exercise. GKV alliance emphasizes that exercise opportunities during breaks support children and young people's natural urge to move and strengthen their concentration and cardiovascular system. The combination of exercise and a balanced diet can also help prevent obesity from an early age.

In schools, there is also a lower risk of injuries and overuse through supervision, which creates a safe environment in which children and young people can learn to move correctly and adequately. With the right information and tips, we can all play a small part in promoting the health of the next generation.