Germany’s Malnutrition Awareness Week 2025: Fighting Malnutrition Together – Cross-Sectoral Care
Dates: November 10–14, 2025
National Partners: ONCA Germany & the German Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (DGEM)
More information: mangelernaehrung-bekaempfen.de
As part of the European Malnutrition Awareness Week (MAW) 2025, Germany will host a week-long national campaign under the theme “Fighting Malnutrition Together – Cross-Sectoral Care.”
Organised by ONCA Germany and the German Nutrition Association (DGEM) together with 11 national partners, the campaign brings together policymakers, healthcare professionals, and patient advocates to address one of the country’s most pressing healthcare challenges, disease-related malnutrition.
Policy Objective: Strengthening Cross-Sectoral Nutrition Care
Germany’s 2025 MAW focuses on improving the connection and transition between different sectors of care — including inpatient, outpatient, and long-term care.
Despite increasing awareness, malnutrition often remains underdiagnosed, particularly in community and post-acute settings. Many patients still fall through the cracks after discharge due to insufficient coordination across healthcare sectors.
Key Policy Ask:
➡️ Full reimbursement of outpatient nutritional counselling.
Ensuring that nutritional care is accessible, continuous, and funded across care settings is essential to effective prevention and therapy of malnutrition.
National Initiative: “Fighting Malnutrition Together – Cross-Sectoral Care”
This year’s German MAW campaign, titled “Fighting Malnutrition Together – Cross-Sectoral Care,” serves as a public health and professional awareness initiative aimed at improving communication, collaboration, and transition between different care sectors.
The initiative is supported by a broad alliance of national partners — professional societies, hospitals, and patient organisations — united by the goal of embedding nutritional care as a standard element across all healthcare pathways.
Programme Highlights
Throughout the week, Germany will host a series of educational and awareness-raising activities, targeting both healthcare professionals and the general public.
📅 Explore the full programme here:
👉 Germany’s MAW 2025 Programme Overview
Key activities include:
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Two informative webinars — one tailored for medical professionals, and for the first time, a session dedicated to patients, relatives, and caregivers, focusing on recognition and management of malnutrition and sarcopenia.
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Radio interviews and public media engagement highlighting the importance of early detection and cross-sectoral coordination.
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Awareness materials (fact sheets, flyers, posters) distributed in hospitals and care facilities nationwide.
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Digital engagement through the MAW website, newsletters, and social media channels.
Engaging Through Media and Social Platforms
The campaign will reach audiences nationwide through:
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The dedicated MAW website: mangelernaehrung-bekaempfen.de
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Webinars and online events for professionals and the public
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Radio and print media coverage
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Social media engagement via
Participants are encouraged to join the conversation and share their experiences using the hashtags:
#MAW2025 #ONCAGermany #GermanyMAW2025 #MalnutritionAwarenessWeek
