Lisbon, Sept. 24, 2026 (Lusa) - Most measures to promote healthy eating are supported by over 80% of the Portuguese, with the greatest support going to those that promote healthy food options in institutional settings, particularly those aimed at children, according to a poll by the national health authority (the DGS).
The results of the public opinion poll on measures to promote healthy eating, carried out in 2025 amongst a representative sample of 1,000 adults living in Portugal, are published in the report by the National Programme for the Promotion of Healthy Eating (PNPAS) of the DGS.
«The data from this study show that measures to promote healthy eating enjoy a high level of social acceptance, which is very positive,» the director of the PNPAS, Maria João Gregório, told Lusa.
Among the measures assessed, the differentiated application of VAT based on the nutritional quality of food and drink received the most support, reflecting the enhancement of fiscal measures aligned with public health objectives.
Measures relating to agreements with the food industry and distribution sector, and the setting of maximum limits on salt and sugar content in certain food categories, also received significant levels of support.
Reducing the portion sizes of food and drink and restaurant menus, however, divided opinion more, although it still recorded levels of agreement in excess of 50%.
Measures targeting places frequented by children and young people, however, received particularly high levels of support. The provision of predominantly healthy food in nurseries and schools recorded levels of agreement above 90%, as did the provision of free meals in these settings.
For Gregório, the results show that there is recognition of the importance of creating healthier food environments, particularly in spaces intended for children.
«The Portuguese do not view the promotion of healthy eating solely as a matter of individual responsibility,» she stated, arguing that there is «significant support for measures in this area to actually make food environments healthier».
Measures aimed at improving food provision in higher education institutions, healthcare facilities and workplaces also met with strong approval.
The same was true of restricting the placement of unhealthy foods in prominent positions in supermarkets, a measure designed to reduce the influence of product exposure at the point of purchase.
The study also reveals a high level of consensus regarding the provision of drinking fountains and tap water in public spaces and the catering sector.
In the area of consumer information, there was also strong support for measures such as the implementation of simplified front-of-pack nutritional labelling systems, the regulation of the use of nutritional and health claims, and the provision of nutritional information on restaurant menus.
According to the head of the PNPAS, these results demonstrate the importance of providing nutritional information «in a simple and clear manner», whilst also reinforcing the need to create conditions that facilitate healthier food choices.
Commenting on the report's data, she said that, on the one hand, they indicate «positive and important signs», but, on the other hand, «poor diet remains one of the major public health challenges in Portugal».
«The data continue to show that poor dietary habits are the fifth leading risk factor for the loss of healthy years of life and that over 50% of the population is also overweight,» she emphasised.
According to the document, low consumption of whole grains, high consumption of red meat and high sodium intake stand out as the three main factors contributing to the loss of healthy years of life.
With regard to dietary consumption data, according to the National Health Survey (2025), 44.7% and 46.5% of children consume fast food or ultra-processed foods and sugary soft drinks at least once a week, respectively.
In 2025, there was a decrease in the prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in Portugal to 3.5%, reaching the lowest figure since 2019.
In cases of hospital admission, malnutrition remains the most prevalent diagnosis related to nutritional status, followed by obesity.
«Between 2020 and 2025, there was a decrease in malnutrition and an increase in obesity, whilst cases diagnosed with sarcopenia showed an upward trend, possibly influenced by improvements in the clinical coding of this condition,» the document highlights.
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