Digital health coaching company, Liva Healthcare is expanding to the German market to help combat the country’s rise in type 2 diabetes and obesity. 

Liva is a healthtech company headquartered in Copenhagen and London with the aim of improving the lives of people at risk of, or living with, chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases by driving positive behavioural change.

Germany will be Liva’s ninth market, with the company planning to open an office in Berlin. Liva is already operational in Britain, Australia, Ireland, Holland, Belgium, Spain Denmark and Sweden, and has proven to drive substantial clinical outcomes across all socio-economic backgrounds.

Liva’s human coaching programmes will help people in Germany manage their condition and develop healthier habits that last. A newly published study conducted by Technical University of Munich shows that more than half of adults in Germany exercise less than they did a year ago, and people living with obesity have gained as much as 7.2 kilograms on average in the same period.

Obesity and inactive lifestyle are two of the most common causes of type 2 diabetes, and latest figures from International Diabetes Federation show over 9.5 million people are now living with diabetes in Germany.

Dr. Philipp M. Schäfer, managing director Germany of Liva Healthcare, said: “Germany has the highest prevalence of diabetes in Europe. More than 15% of German adults have diabetes. Considering that we will see further effects of the pandemic in this regard, these numbers are frightening. At the same time, there is a growing interest in innovative and personalised health solutions that can help in the long term. That's why now is the ideal time to launch Liva in the German market and show how effectively human-centric, digital solutions can be, especially within the prevention and management of chronic diseases.” 

Through an app, Liva provides personal human coaching programmes to help people manage their condition and develop sustainable lifestyle changes. Throughout the programme, health coaches from Liva will guide members step by step towards a healthier lifestyle. 

Members will receive weekly coaching via videos and texts, and their personal health coach will send custom-made nutrition advice, exercise routines, inspirational recipes, and more, all based on the personal needs of the individual and their progress. Alongside personal coaching, members can access groups of people on the same programme, share experiences and get inspired by each other. 

The company works with several key players in the public healthcare, insurance and life science industries globally, including Novo Nordisk, AXA Health, Amgen, City of Copenhagen and Bupa Australia. 

Stephanie Kaiser, member of the scientific advisory board of Liva and honorary member of the Digital Council of the Federal Government of Germany, said: “Digital solutions like Liva can help to prevent chronic diseases in Germany. By deliberately linking individual counselling, personal exchange and the extended (digital) arm via a very user-friendly app, Liva becomes a constant companion in patients' pockets. With this approach, long-term successes are achieved more frequently and the lives of patients are improved in the long term.”