The INSEF studied 4,911 people, most of whom were of active age (84.3% between 25 and 64 years of age), and around two-thirds of the respondents (63.4%) "had no schooling or schooling below secondary education," and 11.2% were unemployed.

On World Physical Activity Day, which is celebrated on Friday, the survey showed that 2.3 million Portuguese (34.2%) do some regular physical activity, that is, at least once a week and enough to work up a sweat and feel tired.

This activity is more frequent in men (39.7%) and in the 25-34 (47.1%) age group.

The next age ranges to do the most regular exercise are from 35 to 44 years old (40.6%), from 45 to 54 years old (31.8%) and from 55 to 64 years old (28.1%).Physical activity is lowest in the range between 65 and 74 (20.8%).

The Lisbon and Tagus Valley region is where the largest percentage of people take regular exercise (40.3%), foolowed by the Algarve region (39.9%), Alentejo (34.2%), Northern Portugal (30%), Portugal (40%), ) and the Centre (28%).

Regular physical activity is more common among employed people (38.4%) and among those who have completed higher education (49.6%). Among respondents with a secondary education, 43.2%do regular physical activity, and those who have completed schooling of between year 8 and year 10, 32.3% of people do some regular exercise. Among those who do not have any schooling or only the attended primary school, just 18.8% do regular physical activity.

INSEF supports the national and regional observation and monitoring of the health status of the population and evaluates health programmes and public health research.

World Physical Activity Day aims to promote regular physical activity among the population, as well as to show the benefits of physical exercise.