Portugal, a sedentary country

RM Trainer brings up this theme because, after all, its great function is precisely to combat sedentary lifestyle and help people to become active and progressively adopt healthy habits in their daily lives.

So we thought it interesting to share here an article written by Deco Proteste, authored by Ânia Rosado, which exposes this topic and which mentions that most portuguese people say they never exercise or practice sports. The data are from the European Commission's Eurobarometer for Sport and Physical Activity, which also indicates that only 4% of respondents in Portugal practice sport regularly.

According to these data, in Portugal:

- 73% say they never exercise or play sports (above the European Union average);

- 4% say they do sport “regularly”;

- 18% do it “with some regularity”;

- 5% confess that they “rarely” do it.

The study also shows that women are more sedentary than men, with 80% revealing that they never or rarely do sports or any type of physical activity. In the case of men, this percentage drops to 75%. 

 

Portuguese spend many hours sitting

In 2022, 20% of respondents indicated that they spend between 5 hours and 31 minutes to 8 hours and 30 minutes sitting, per day. Covid-19 must also have contributed to this trend.

According to the study, during the pandemic:

- 41% of portuguese who already practiced some physical activity continued to be physically active, but less frequently.

- 22% indicate having remained as active as before the pandemic.

- 19% stopped practicing any physical activity.

 

In addition, among respondents who choose to practice some type of daily physical activity:

- 48% engage in vigorous physical activity for 60 minutes or less;

- 23% practice vigorous physical activity between 61 minutes and 120 minutes.

- 60% choose to do moderate physical activity for 60 minutes or less;

- 17% practice moderate physical activity between 61 minutes and 120 minutes.

The World Health Organization (WHO) argues that any amount of physical activity is better than none at all. For health and well-being gains, the WHO recommends that all adults engage in at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week (or equivalent vigorous physical activity).

 

Regarding the preferred location to train:

- 52% prefer to train outdoors in a park (outdoor training);

- 30% still choose the gym (indoor training);

- 26% say that commuting between home, school, work or shops is their physical activity;

- 5% practice sports at work;

- 11% practice at school or university. 

 

Regarding the reasons for practicing physical activity:

- 49% say they want to improve their health;

- 46% want to relax;

- 34% want to improve performance;

- 27% want to control their weight;

-26% want to improve their physical appearance;

- 22% just want to have fun. 

 

In relation to those who are unable to practice sports on a more regular basis, reasons such as:

- 44% due to lack of time;

- 29% due to lack of motivation or interest;

- 29% for lack of interest in competition;

- 11% due to disability or illness;

- 10% for fear of risk of injury;

- 8% for the cost, as they consider it to be expensive. 

 

In summary, unfortunately the vast majority of portuguese are sedentary! Most of those who practice physical exercise, point to health gains as a reason for their practice, however, many of these do not do it long enough to obtain these gains, according to the WHO.

Outdoor training is the preferred place, followed by gyms.

The reason given by the majority to justify a sedentary lifestyle is related to the lack of time and also the lack of motivation.

RM Trainer is happy to fight this trend by working with a group of active people, who train in the place of their choice (many outdoors as most portuguese prefer) and help to manage the lack of time and motivation, thus getting more easily the desired results!

          “Lack of physical activity destroys the good condition of any human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save and preserve it.” Plato, 428 B.C.-348 B.C. 

“Generally speaking, all parts of the body which have a function, if used sparingly and exercised in the labor to which they are accustomed, become, in consequence, healthy, well developed, and age slowly: but if left unused and idle, they become exposed to disease, defective in growth, and age rapidly.” Hippocrates, 460 B.C. – 377 B.C.