School Meals as the Key to Health and Equal Opportunity

Children who eat well at school learn better and stay healthier. This is especially true for children who have less access to balanced meals at home. In 2018, Bremen launched a pilot…

“The system only kicks in when we get sick”

Epidemiologist Hajo Zeeb attributes Germany’s low life expectancy—compared to other OECD countries—to excessive tolerance of tobacco and alcohol.

How Epidemiologists Count Heat-Related Deaths

So far this year, more people in Germany have died as a result of the heat than ever before since records began in 1992. MDR AKTUELL listener Ralf Eilert wonders how these figures are actually…

What a Sugar Tax Might Achieve

The federal government wants to introduce a tax on sugary drinks. What are the benefits of such price increases? Are there risks, and are there effective alternatives? Here are the key questions and answers.

Colorectal Cancer on the Rise Among Younger People: “They Rarely Expect to Get Colorectal Cancer”

Unexpected weight loss or chronic abdominal pain—just two of many possible warning signs of colorectal cancer that are often ignored,…

Significantly More Organic Food in Bremen Schools Than in Bremerhaven

Two-thirds of the food served in school meals in the city of Bremen now comes from organic farms. In Bremerhaven, that figure is only seven percent.

Colorectal Cancer Is Relatively Rare Among People Under 50 in Germany

A study compared colorectal cancer data from Germany with trends in the United States. It shows that the increase in the number of younger patients is significantly…

Why Nature Is So Important for Children

Fresh air, plenty of peace and quiet, and yet also encouragement to be active. Nature promotes health in many ways. Depriving children of it is a risk.

Dangerous Self-Optimization: Testosterone as a Lifestyle Booster

Testosterone is promoted on social media as a miracle cure for muscle growth, energy, and libido. But doctors warn that anyone who takes the hormone without actually having…

Anxiety and Depression: Five Sessions Can Make All the Difference

A pilot project in Bremen is testing low-threshold support services for refugees experiencing mental health challenges—with the potential for broader implementation