Aim: Because of demographic developments and changes in health-politics, the importance of leisure time physical activity as a part of sociomedical preventative strategies will increase. The present paper investigates levels of leisure time physical activity in the total German population and in specific subgroups. Method: A national health survey in the Federal Republic of Germany was conducted from October 1997 to March 1999. This “First German National Health Survey“ is based on a representative net sample of 6,121 people aged 18 to 79. Bivariate methods and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the relationship between leisure time physical activity and sociodemographic characteristics, living situation and health-related individual lifestyle. Results: One in two adults in Germany (46.7 %) does not engage in sport. Women, the elderly, people from lower socioeconomic groups, and residents of the former East Germany are particularly likely to have an inactive lifestyle. Our study population did not correspond to the popular image of the recreational athlete as an abstinent, ascetic individual. The subgroups of non-smokers, teetotalers and people with a healthy diet contained significantly fewer athletes than the corresponding reference groups of moderate consumers. Conclusions: The present paper is the first to publish representative data on leisure time physical activity in the general population since German reunification in 1990. It confirms the well-known “preaching to the converted“ phenomenon and its corollary, namely that just those sections of the population with the socio-demographic highest risk of morbidity are those with the least physical activity.