GLP-1 Drugs Are Slowing Steps — Germany's New Fitness Programs Aim to Reverse the Trend

A study presented at the ENDO 2026 conference in Illinois has thrown a spotlight on an unexpected side effect of popular weight-loss medications: people taking GLP-1 preparations are moving less. Researchers at HSHS St. John's Hospital tracked 753 participants and found that their average daily step count dropped from 5,047 to 4,487 after starting the drugs. The decline was most pronounced among men and individuals with joint pain — a drop of 560 steps per day.

The finding comes just as German companies are reporting record success in getting sedentary employees to move. The "MOVE DAYS 2026" initiative, which involved more than 6,500 workers from over 100 firms, recorded roughly 1.03 billion steps in total. About 43 percent of participants admitted they had exercised fewer than two hours per week before the campaign. Among small-to-medium businesses with 50 to 100 employees, participation rates surged to between 60 and 95 percent — a dramatic improvement over traditional health programmes, which typically attract only 10 to 30 percent of staff. Organisers noted that 78 percent of participants hit their personal targets, and half engaged with the topic of mental health for the first time.

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The case for more movement is backed by solid evidence. A 2024 meta-analysis covering around 480,000 people concluded that regular stair climbing cuts the risk of death from any cause by 24 percent. The risk of dying from heart disease fell even further — by 39 percent. Another study involving 460,000 adults found that climbing just five flights of stairs each day reduces the likelihood of stroke and heart disease by 20 percent.

To make movement easier in everyday settings, companies are turning to technology. At a Berlin event in mid-June, the brand Sportstech unveiled the "WoodPad Pro," a foldable walking pad made of real wood that is designed to blend into a living room. It is intended for light activity during phone calls or reading and can be stored away afterward. Meanwhile, the Heidelberg-based app "HEAL" calculates walking routes by factoring in the shade cast by buildings and trees — a feature that appeals to older or health-compromised people during hot weather. Early data show users willingly accept detours of around five minutes to stay on cooler paths.

Inclusivity is also gaining ground. The town of Rösrath inaugurated an outdoor fitness machine in June that is built specifically for wheelchair users, targeting upper-body strength. It sends a signal that physical activity should be accessible to everyone, not just those who can jog or climb stairs.

Several local projects are scheduled for the coming months. In the Vogelsberg district, the “1 Tag, 1 Kilometer” programme kicks off in early September, asking participants to document their daily movement for 30 consecutive days. Duisburg’s adult education centre will offer walking courses from September. And the town of Süßen plans a workshop in early September on fall prevention and coordination for people aged 55 and older.

At the federal level, the Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG) is pushing initiatives such as “Gesund und aktiv älter werden,” which combine exercise with loneliness prevention and heat-adaptation advice. Municipalities are receiving digital planning tools to redesign public spaces in ways that encourage walking, cycling, and other forms of everyday movement — trying to keep a workforce moving even when modern medications are pulling in the opposite direction.

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