en 
According to CNN Portugal, a report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (WHO), concludes that in 2016, 35.4% of adults from the 27 countries of the European Union were not considered according to WHO criteria, did not achieve 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week.
Among the 27 EU Member States, the country that ranked the highest was Finland, with only 20% of adults achieving below WHO's recommendation, in Portugal it was much higher, with more than 45% of adults below the recommended criteria.
The report also cites data from the latest Eurobarometer, according to which only four out of 10 adults (38%) in the EU exercised or did sport at least once a week in 2022, and only 6% exercised five times a week.
In addition, almost half (45%) of adults admit to never exercising or doing sport, although physical activity is one of the most important things that can be done to improve physical and mental health and well-being, highlights the author's of the report.
The level of physical activity is also common among adolescents, particularly among girls, as less than one in five boys and less than one in 10 girls say they respect the WHO recommendation of less than one hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day.
Portugal, along with Italy and France, was among the EU member states worse off with levels of physical activity among adolescents, unlike countries such as Slovakia, Slovenia, the Netherlands or Bulgaria.
European participation in physical or sports activity has improved little between 2017 and 2022 – the EU average of 44% to 53% – even as the two countries saw the level of physical activity decrease, notably Portugal.
According to the report, the covid-19 pandemic has worsened the situation for the majority, although some adults have taken advantage of the situation to do more exercise: More than half of Europeans have reduced their physical activity and only 7% more exercise as the pandemic ends.
The authors estimate in the report that if all people respected it as WHO guidelines for physical activity, they would be more likely to prevent 10,000 premature deaths of people between 30 and 70 per year and life expectancy increasing by 7.5 months for them to be insufficiently active.
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Healthy living, clean, safe, green spaces, clean, decent swimming pools - this is only for the wealthy in Portugal. The population is not educated to do exercise, there are no affordable places to exercise, there is no value in doing exercise, public swimming pools do not even open early enough for working people to swim (and are often closed). No wonder that the population is so miserable and overweight when all they can do is eat and drink.
By K from Other on 19 Feb 2023, 18:57
@K The ecosystem comprising of a clean, safe, and healthy environment to practise healthy living, with a centrally located public park or green spaces for children to play and roam around freely, well-paved walking paths/trails to enable walking/jogging/cycling and access to decent swimming pools is a basic right, a fundamental requirement which is not even a tall order! This should not be exclusive to only a niche segment of society – including but not limited to the wealthy, the ruling class or the shameless self-proclaimed elites.
Without any means nor resources to lead a healthy lifestyle, it is no surprise that most people will resort to eating and drinking to fill that void, as you have elucidated.
This begs to be answered: Why is there a lack of awareness among the public about exercising?
By EL from USA on 20 Feb 2023, 05:45
To K from the other on
Well don't generalize despite what you thinking many people in Portugal have more education that you think or even more than you .The only think you do is criticize the country that you live .If this is so bad why you still where ? And for your lack of information many of people in Portugal still cook and prepare their meals from scratch and many of them also exerciser despite what you thinking .
By Isabel Oliveira from Lisbon on 20 Feb 2023, 08:16
@K I could not refrain from responding to your visceral comment although I do not reside in Portugal. However, it does not diminish our shared humanity and my conviction of how essential and rewarding exercise is to our overall well-being, which impacts our body, mind, mood, heart, and spirit.
As you have cited, the lack of consistent and affordable access to facilities or amenities where the common man and woman can exercise feels like a punch to my gut. Notably your sentiments on public swimming pools being often closed and not operating at an optimal schedule for those who work really hit me hard because as a swimmer who was deprived of my daily training/workout due to the Covid-19 lockdown here in the U.S., it led to mental distress and muscle atrophy. However, that period was an inevitable anomaly due to a pandemic; thank goodness this is all behind us and I cannot imagine if this has persisted hitherto.
I take it that you are an avid swimmer who is passionate about swimming? It is evident that you recognize the immense benefits of swimming, and the incalculable value of exercising.
Are there no public parks or trails in each suburb/city where people can go for a walk or cycle?
Have there been any concerted efforts by the public/your community in voicing their/your grievances to the authorities? For example, to petition/request for the pools to open by at least 6 a.m. to facilitate those who need to work?
By EL from USA on 20 Feb 2023, 21:00
To EL from USA Well said about this person By K from Other on that despite living or not in Portugal despite to like generalize also seems to have so much anger and hate to the country that she is supposed living . This person never finds anything positive or anything good about the country that she is supposed be living and never says anything without criticizing and insulting the country and their people that did welcome to live . And if this supposed person is so unhappy in the country that she is living and paying reduce taxes to the government and council and then she needs to return to the country where she did come from whatever country she did come . Go back and dont return. I did live over 20 years in the UK but I didn't go bashing the country all over and I did respect the country and their people despite many things been wrong .
By Isabel Oliveira from Lisbon on 21 Feb 2023, 11:25
@Isabel Oliveira from Lisbon
Thank you for sharing your perspective and for shedding light on this issue. It is commendable that many people in Portugal make efforts to prepare their meals from scratch, and glad to know that they do have the opportunity to exercise. It is also noteworthy that you possess a gracious and respectful demeanor toward the host country and its inhabitants during your stay.
By EL from USA on 27 Feb 2023, 21:50