Most young French (86 percent) think that sport keeps healthy and improves the quality of life. They are therefore perfectly aware of the importance of physical activity. Nevertheless, around 25 percent of 16-25 year-olds in France do no or very little sport (less than three times a month). A recent study by CRÉDOC (Research Center for the Study and Observation of Life Condition) and UCPA, a French non-profit organization that makes outdoor sports holidays available for all, has highlighted why so many young French do not participate in sports. “Lack of time” has emerged as the first barrier to physical activity (45 percent), followed closely by “too much work, homework and family constraints” (37 percent). The other main barriers include the costs – 30 percent said it is “too expensive” and “not having someone to play with” (24 percent). The data has also highlighted that the young French who do not participate in sports are in poorer health conditions than the others, based on specific questions about whether or not they had suffered from headache (61 percent vs. 52 percent), backache (62 percent vs. 53 percent), nervousness, (56 percent vs. 45 percent), insomnia (51 percent vs. 42 percent), or depression (50 percent vs. 27 percent) during the previous four weeks. On a positive note, 68 percent of those who do not participate in sports, or very little, said that they would very much like to do more.

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