One in three Poles does not undertake physical activity even once a month [REPORT]

According to the MultiSport Index 2023 report, which examines the physical condition of people in Poland, two out of three Poles claim to be physically active. However, a closer look at the results reveals that the number of people who exercise enough to maintain their health drops to less than half. One in three Poles does not undertake physical activity even once a month.
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The MultiSport Index survey has been carried out on behalf of Benefit Systems for several years now. It aims at examining the physical and sports activity of Poles. The concepts are similar, but not the same. Physical activity is any physical activity not related to work, including cycling for transport purposes and walking. Sports activity does not include the last two elements and is defined in the survey as the activity undertaken in a more conscious way, at least once a week (activity as an end in itself).
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Over the last five years the rate of physical activity has remained at a similar level: nearly two in three respondents declare that they are active at least once a month (64% this year). However, when we narrow down the results to those who exercise once a week and exclude those who simply commute by bike and walk, the percentage of active people drops to less than half (48%). What's more, the survey shows that two out of three respondents (64%) who declare walking as their only activity are convinced that this is a “completely sufficient” dose of sport in their lives.
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The most alarming data is that one in three Poles does not undertake physical activity even once a month.
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Iwona Piątkowska, doctor of physical culture in the field of biomedical sciences and an expert at Benefit Systems, points out that an insufficient amount of activity can lead to very serious health consequences, both physical and mental.
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– Lack of regular physical activity is new to the human body in the context of evolution and may increase susceptibility to many diseases – she explains. – Currently, most medical visits are related to the so-called diseases of affluence, which are also referred to as “lifestyle diseases.” Lifestyle elements that depend on our daily habits are, for example, sleep, nutrition, and level of physical activity. A more physically active society is a healthier society. This translates into fewer patients in diabetes or cardiology clinics. Physical activity should not be negotiable – just as few people think of negotiating the frequency of brushing their teeth.
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Fitness clubs with the highest growth

However, there are also positive conclusions regarding a more conscious approach to sport coming from the MultiSport Index 2023 survey. Almost one in five respondents (18%) exercises five times a week or more and almost the same number of people (17%) are active three to four times a week. One in three people who are physically active only one to three times a month believes that their level of activity is insufficient.
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Outdoor sports, such as cycling (35%) and running (31%), remain among the most popular disciplines. Interestingly, in this year’s survey, gyms and fitness classes gained a lot of popularity – in the last three months preceding the survey, they were frequented by one in three respondents (31%, a change of 11% compared to the previous survey – the highest increase in popularity among all activities).
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For Poles intensive physical exercise in such facilities is a way to deal with mental stress. For 32% of respondents, physical activity is a better way to de-stress than watching TV or series on streaming platforms. Most respondents (84%) agree that regular physical activity reduces stress and bad emotions.
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– Poles go to sports facilities with their health in mind. Currently, 42% of them exercise for better mental condition and 25% – for health prevention. We are observing a significant increase in activity in clubs and the number of users, which is constantly growing. In our clubs, e.g. Zdrofit network, the number of passes increased by 19% compared to the first quarter of last year. Before the pandemic, year-on-year increases in new customers were not that significant. Moreover, according to our estimates, at the end of May 2023 the number of users in our own networks will reach almost 210,000 – comments Tomasz Groń, Managing Director at Benefit Systems Fitness Unit
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The report shows that a good incentive to visit sports facilities can be an employee benefit in the form of a MultiSport card – 85% of its holders declare that they undertake sports activity at least once a week. Young people are also the most active: one in five people aged 18-24 exercises five times a week or more, and one in three – three or four times a week. For comparison, in the 40-49 age group it is only 17% and 11%.
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Dr. Piątkowska is not surprised by these results.
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– Generation Y and Z show the greatest awareness of the beneficial impact of regular exercise on health and quality of life. This awareness most often goes hand in hand with physical activity – she comments. – Assuming that in the next decades of their lives they will maintain this approach, they have a chance not only to extend their lives but to live more years in good health. If today’s Millennials stay in shape, it will allow them to reduce health care expenditures over time, relieve it a bit, and as a result – perhaps – facilitate access to doctors in emergencies.
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According to the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO), all adults should engage in at least 2.5 to 5 hours of “moderate to intense aerobic physical activity” per week. This is a term for exercises that raise the heart rate – fast walking, running, rope skipping or swimming. A leisurely walk is not one of them.According to the WHO, if incentives to be more active are abandoned, by 2030 half a billion people will suffer from heart disease, obesity, diabetes, or other non-communicable diseases related to physical inactivity. The estimated cost of this lack of activity is USD 27 billion a year.
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Survey information
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The MultiSport Index is a comprehensive survey of physical activity (exercise undertaken at least once a month) and sports activity (regular physical effort undertaken at least once a week) of Poles. The survey is conducted on behalf of Benefit Systems by the Minds&Roses research agency. The MultiSport Index 2023 survey was carried out on a representative random sample of 1,400 Poles aged 18+ using the computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) technique. The survey was conducted from 30 January to 3 February 2023.
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Poles’ physical activity – an indicator based on the number of people who are physically active at least once a month. In 2023 it is 64%.
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Sports activity – an indicator based on the number of people who are physically active at least once a week, provided that it is a sports activity (cycling for transport purposes and walking are excluded). In 2023 it is 48%..

Sandra Dobrowolska

797 294 243

Sandra Dobrowolska

Senior PR Specialist, Benefit Systems

• s.dobrowolska@benefitsystems.pl
• 797 294 243