Britta Renner: New President of the DGE for healthy nutrition!

Britta Renner: New President of the DGE for healthy nutrition!

On October 1, 2025 there will be news from the world of nutrition: Psychologist Britta Renner was elected as the new President of the German Nutrition Society (DGE). Her assumption of office follows the era of Bernhard Watzl and was decided during the general meeting on September 24, 2025. Renner, who has been deputy chairwoman of the DGE since 2019, has extensive experience in nutritional psychology.

In her new role, she will advocate for fair food environments to promote sustainable diets. Renner has also made a name for himself in other positions, such as deputy chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board for Agricultural Policy, Nutrition and Consumer Health Protection (WBAE) at the BMLEH. Her research sheds light on the connections between eating behavior, social influencing factors and individual motives and aims to make healthy diets accessible to everyone.

New vice presidents and DGE goals

With Renner at the helm, two vice presidents will also support the DGE: Ute Nöthlings from the University of Bonn and Anette Buyken from the University of Paderborn. The DGE is known for its funding of research, advice and education on nutritional topics, as well as for its comprehensive nutritional recommendations, including the well-known program “Eat and drink well – the DGE recommendations”.

The DGE aims to overcome the challenges of modern nutrition and educate society about healthy and sustainable eating habits. This is in line with the WHO and FAO global goals to promote healthy diets. Current studies - such as those by Daniela Moirano and Professor Jörg Königstorfer - confirm the relevance of these efforts and examine the psychological factors influencing sustainable and healthy nutrition.

Psychological factors of nutrition

The study published by Moirano and Königstorfer provides valuable insights into the motivation to change eating habits. Factors such as environmental awareness, self-efficacy, personal attitudes and social norms were examined with over 600 participants in Germany. The results show that healthy eating is strongly influenced by personal health beliefs, while sustainable eating is more influenced by social norms and a sense of responsibility. These differences are crucial for future political and societal approaches to promoting healthy and sustainable eating habits.

Additionally, the study shows that perceived control over personal eating decisions, such as time and money, plays little role in either behavior. This highlights the need for campaigns that emphasize both individual benefits from healthy eating and a sense of social responsibility from sustainable eating.

Interdisciplinary approaches and key research questions

The Institute for Nutritional Psychology (IfE) at the Georg-August University of Göttingen, headed by PD Dr. med. Thomas Ellrott, also devotes himself to these questions and systematically examines the determinants of eating behavior, especially in childhood and adolescence. Research focuses include the prevention of obesity and the therapeutic treatment of associated diseases.

The IfE has developed numerous practical courses, including a course for medical students entitled “Culinary Medicine”, which has been offered since the winter semester 2019/2020. These offers integrate aspects of health, nutrition and ecological and climate responsibility. Collaboration with organizations such as the DGE and the Association for Nutrition and Dietetics (VFED) strengthens the impact of these initiatives.

In summary, it can be said that the election of Britta Renner as President of the DGE represents a significant development in the promotion of healthy and sustainable nutrition. Thanks to their extensive experience and the support of interdisciplinary institutions, the course has been set for successful nutrition education in Germany.