Portugal dietary habits: High processed food and obesity rates

Data from the National Health Survey (INS), released by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), reveals significant dietary trends among the Portuguese population aged 15 and older in 2025. Approximately 32.1% of the population consumes processed fish or seafood and processed meat one to three times per week.

Regarding fresh proteins, only 4.4% of people consume fish or seafood daily, while 9.4% consume fresh or frozen poultry and 11.2% consume fresh or frozen red meat daily. In terms of produce, 68.3% consume fruit daily, 57.5% consume milk and dairy products, and 41.2% consume vegetables and salads daily.

The report also highlights public health concerns, noting that 57.1% of the population aged 18 or older is overweight or obese, defined by a body mass index of 25 kg/m2 or higher. Additionally, 32.2% of the population consumes sugary soft drinks at least once a week.