The study 'Physical Exercise Habits of the Active Portuguese Population', developed by the Behavioral Insights Unit of CATÓLICA-LISBON for BNP Paribas, was presented last Wednesday, May 21, in Lisbon, at the event 'Sport Today: Testing Limits'. This initiative was part of the Challenging the Future conference series promoted by the bank.
The study offers an in-depth look at how and when the Portuguese working population engages in physical activity, highlighting the growing role of technology and the specific patterns observed among younger generations.
One of the most striking findings is the level of investment in children’s sports: half of families with children (50.3%) spend more than €40 per month on sports activities for their kids, a significantly higher amount than what adults spend on their own physical activity.
Although 65.1% of the working population reports exercising regularly, most opt for affordable solutions: 50.5% spend up to €10 per month. The most common choices include outdoor spaces (58.4%), home workouts (32.4%) and gyms (32.9%).
The main motivations for exercising are physical health (30.3%), weight control (19.3%) and stress management (16.6%). Emotional well-being is also highly valued: 85.3% believe physical activity contributes significantly or very significantly to psychological well-being.
Most people exercise two to three times a week, primarily in the late afternoon (50.7%), and usually alone (56.6%). Among those who don’t exercise, the main barriers cited are lack of time (27.3%), lack of energy (28.6%), lack of interest (25.7%) and lack of company (15.3%).
Gym workouts are the most frequently mentioned activity (31.2%), followed by running and yoga/pilates. The study also reveals notable gender differences: men more often cite leisure and self-improvement as motivations, while women highlight physical discomfort, low energy and financial constraints as key obstacles.
Regarding technology use, more than half of respondents (54.6%) use electronic devices during physical activity. The most commonly used are smartphones (62.3%), smartwatches (57.5%) and headphones (41%). These devices are mainly used to monitor performance (70.4%), listen to music or podcasts (56.8%) and track health and performance metrics.
Technology is also seen as a motivating factor (72.2%) and a way to personalise workouts (51%). Among wearable users, nearly half (47.7%) say they feel safer exercising with technological support, thanks to real-time health monitoring (73.3%), smart training apps (39.6%) and geolocation features (29.1%).
When it comes to younger generations, the study shows that 73.9% of respondents’ children regularly engage in sports. The most popular activities are swimming (42.5%), football (33.8%), strength training (14.5%) and martial arts (13%). Most children train at least twice a week, mainly in sports clubs (62.8%) and gyms (29%).
The presentation of the study's findings was complemented by a roundtable discussion that brought together different perspectives on the role of physical exercise in the lives of the Portuguese. Moderated by Pedro Ribeiro, Program Director at Rádio Comercial, the conversation featured Olympic athlete Patrícia Mamona, clinical psychologist and expert in Sport and Performance Psychology Ana Bispo Ramires, and Pedro Carvalho, President of Academia dos Champs.
For Patrícia Mamona, the data is a clear sign of change: “Today, 62% of the working population is physically active. Twenty years ago, the numbers were almost reversed. As an athlete, I’m proud to see a collective commitment to physical activity”. However, she also warned of the dangers of a culture focused on speed and instant results: “We are conditioning people to expect quick outcomes, but a high-performance athlete can take 20 years to prepare. We need to educate people on the value of the process, of consistency and resilience”.
Psychologist Ana Bispo Ramires reinforced this idea, emphasising the direct impact of physical activity on mental health: “Physical activity is one of the biggest contributors to mental health. It’s an incredibly powerful tool”. She also stressed the importance of physical education as the gateway to building long-term, consistent habits: “People often approach sports because it’s trendy, but consistency is what makes the difference. And that consistency starts at school”.
Pedro Carvalho brought the perspective of someone who works daily with children and young people from diverse social backgrounds through Academia dos Champs. For him, sport has a transformative power that goes far beyond physical performance: “Sport can save lives. It teaches discipline, respect and teamwork. It has the ability to create pathways, level opportunities and foster social integration. As long as there is access, everyone starts from the same place”.