Report on Heat-Related Health by the Associate Professorship of Didactics in Sport and Health

Extreme temperatures are among the greatest climate-related health risks across Europe. While indicators such as heat-related mortality or economic losses have been established for years, little is still known about how people experience prolonged periods of heat in their daily lives, which health complaints occur, and which factors help them protect themselves effectively.

This is precisely where the new report on heat-related health in Germany, prepared by the Associate Professorship of Didactics in Sport and Health, comes in. For the first time, health complaints, heat-related health literacy, and protective behavior were examined together during a nationwide heatwave (mid to late June 2026) in a representative survey of 2,100 people. The findings provide an important scientific basis for identifying particularly affected population groups and for further developing targeted prevention and adaptation measures.

“Heat is often only perceived once it has already led to health problems. Our goal was therefore to gain a better understanding of how people experience such weather extremes in their daily lives and which factors can help protect them. With this report, we are creating a scientific evidence base for the first time,” says Prof. Dr. Filip Mess, Head of the Associate Professorship of Didactics in Sport and Health.

Health burden affects large parts of the population

The findings show that high temperatures have immediate health consequences for many people. Ninety-six percent of respondents report recurring complaints during periods of extreme heat, and more than three-quarters experience at least one symptom directly relevant to their health. The most frequently reported complaints are sleep disturbances (55 percent), lack of energy (47 percent), severe fatigue (41 percent), and circulatory problems (33 percent).

The survey also reveals striking differences between population groups. People with a low socioeconomic status and individuals with chronic illnesses report a greater health burden. Surprisingly, younger adults report heat-related complaints more frequently than older people while at the same time being less likely to implement preventive protective measures.

Health literacy plays a key role in determining health burden

A key finding of the policy brief concerns heat-related health literacy. Around half of the respondents demonstrate at least a “problematic” level of health literacy. This does not refer to a lack of knowledge about high temperatures, but rather to difficulties in finding, understanding, evaluating, and applying health-related information in everyday life. At the same time, people with higher levels of health literacy report a lower burden of heat-related symptoms.

“Health literacy does not mean knowing as much as possible about heat,” explains Dr. Jan Schmid-Ellinger, Research Associate at the  Associate Professorship of Didactics in Sport and Health. “What matters is whether people are able to find relevant information, evaluate it correctly, and translate it into timely action. This is exactly where we still see considerable potential.”

Protective measures often begin only after the first symptoms appear

The study also suggests that many people only adjust their behavior once health complaints have already occurred. As a result, protective measures are often implemented as a response to an existing health burden rather than as a preventive strategy. At the same time, the researchers from the department point out that risks cannot be avoided through individual behavior alone. Factors such as housing conditions, working environments, and urban infrastructure play a decisive role in determining how strongly people are exposed to extreme temperatures.

“Our findings show that individual heat protection is important, but it is not sufficient on its own,” says Prof. Mess. “In addition to improving health communication, structural measures are also needed—for example in urban planning or in the workplace—to enable people to protect themselves effectively against the health impacts of extreme temperatures.”

A foundation for prevention and climate adaptation

Based on the findings, the researchers derive concrete recommendations for prevention and health communication. These include the targeted promotion of heat-related health literacy, tailored information for specific target groups, and stronger links between weather warnings and concrete recommendations for action. At the same time, the report underlines the importance of long-term structural measures, such as climate-adapted urban development and health-promoting working and living conditions.

With this report, the Associate Professorship of Didactics in Sport and Health provides, for the first time, a comprehensive empirical basis for assessing the health impacts of extreme heat in Germany not only on the basis of mortality data but also through the everyday experiences of the population. The findings are intended to contribute to the evidence-based development of future prevention and adaptation strategies.

To the Homepage of the  Associate Professorship of Didactics in Sport and Health
To the Report on Heat-Related Health in Germany
To the Project page: “Climate Change and Health”

Contact

Prof. Dr. Filip Mess
Associate Professorship of Didactics in Sport and Health
Am Olympiacampus 11
80809 Munich
Phone: +49 89 289 24520
E-mail: filip.mess(at)tum.de

Dr. Jan Schmid-Ellinger
Associate Professorship of Didactics in Sport and Health
Am Olympiacampus 11
80809 Munich
Phone: +49 89 289 24974
E-mail: jan.ellinger(at)tum.de

Text: Bastian Daneyko
Photos: Microsoft Copilot (AI-generated)/Private