Sustainably promoting physical activity for the benefit of health

The Mutualité Française, committed to promoting physical activity and Sport-Health, has seized the opportunity of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games (JOP) to dedicate the 7th edition of its Observatory to Sport-Health. Although the majority of French people consider themselves to be in good health, this study reveals a more nuanced picture of physical activity in France, with significant disparities. Faced with the public health challenge of sedentary lifestyles, the Mutualité Française has formulated proposals to put sport at the service of everyone's health.

“In the face of these challenges, the Mutualité Française is committing itself in collaboration with mutual societies and sport-health structures. It has formulated 10 proposals aimed at raising awareness of the importance of sport for health, improving information on existing systems such as Activité Physique Adaptée and Maisons Sport-Santé, and strengthening coordination between professionals, local and public policies. It is essential to integrate sport-health into schools, promote it in the workplace, and make it a part of the training of healthcare professionals.

Finally, we propose financial and incentive support to make Sport-Health accessible to all French people, by encouraging non-profit structures in order to ensure high-quality care and avoid the financialisation of the sector.”

Favoriser durablement l’activité physique au bénéfice de la santé

THE SUD, CHAMPION OF FRANCE Thus, when it comes to the health and sports practice of the French, there are encouraging results, but room for improvement remains. 61% of French people claim to practice sport at least once a week, but a significant proportion (30%) never or almost never (less than once a month) practice any sporting activity, including moderate activity. Furthermore, the cost of practicing sport is a major obstacle for many non-practitioners (31%), just behind the lack of Remaining in good health is the main motivation for French people to practice sport, with 71% of citations.

And improving physical fitness comes in 2nd place with 51% of citations, ahead of the need to relax or relieve stress (38%) and the desire to lose weight (34%). However, the French are convinced of the health benefits of sport, as 93% believe that practicing sport regularly is important for staying in good health. • motivation (40%) and family, professional, or school constraints (38%).

Sports practice among the French is not homogeneous across socio-demographic and territorial lines. Weekly sports practice is largely correlated with age (72% of young people play sport every week compared to 57% of those over 50) as well as social background (71% of managers play sport every week compared to 57% of blue-collar workers). For example, practice is also largely linked to the territory and region where one lives.

Gaps of nearly 20 points are recorded between the most active regions and those that are the least. Thus, the Sud region is the champion of France with 71% of weekly practitioners, even though it is a region with a higher proportion of people over 65.