Medical progress and greater prosperity have helped us to not only live longer but also to
stay healthy longer. However the downsides of ever greater convenience are now becoming
apparent: the next pandemic will be characterised by lifestyle-related diseases and - unlike
the coronavirus - will spread slowly and without much media attention. A growing number of
circulatory diseases type 2 diabetes and cancer are part of the new normal resulting from a
modern lifestyle with less exercise and more fast food. An increasing number of mental
illnesses due to pressure to perform loneliness and dependence on digital aids have become
part of our daily life. Not only older people are affected but more and more young people also
suffer from these symptoms. These slow pandemics arise in everyday life and cannot be treated
by a hospital stay or a drug. They require a new healthcare system that focuses on daily life -
and the involvement of all public and private actors who shape our environment and behaviour.
The focus on healthy lifestyles opens up new interlinked markets for prevention - provided
that society also assumes responsibility. The foundations are selective rather than a complete
evaluation of behavioural data and builds health-promoting infrastructure and redefines
quality of life by combining control and enjoyment.
