[Practice of sports in the general population]

Practice of sports in the general population. According to several surveys, it is estimated that 33 to 46% of French people never do sport or physical exercise, and this proportion tends to increase over the years. Men generally do more sport than women, and the frequency of participation tends to decrease with advancing age. The sport is mainly practiced outdoors, and the practice in commercial health and sport centers remains very minority (on average 5% of the participants). More than half of the people who exercise or play sport practice sport alone, without supervision, in total autonomy; however, this form of practice varies according to the type of sport. The most popular sport activities are walking and running, followed by fitness activities (fitness, resistance exercises, yoga, etc.). Women are particularly attracted to sports such as horse riding, tennis or gymnastics. The regularity of practice depends on the type of sport, and among people who report playing sports, 57% follow at least 2 sessions per week, for most of the year. For the general population, it is mainly the maintenance of health, the need for general wellbeing and relaxation that motivate people who do exercise or play sport, much more than the taste for competition and the need to perform.