Nicotine pouches are rapidly gaining popularity in Portugal, even as health authorities and regulators race to define how these smokeless products should be controlled. The small, discreet pouches, placed between the gum and lip, deliver nicotine without combustion and are being marketed as an alternative for adult smokers. However, experts warn that their rise is taking place in a legal and regulatory grey zone.

The World Health Organization has cautioned that nicotine pouches are addictive and may harm brain development, particularly among adolescents. Despite these warnings, their use is increasing across Europe, including Portugal, where the products were recently brought under an excise tax regime after months of operating without clear regulation.

Tabaqueira, a subsidiary of Philip Morris International, officially entered the Portuguese market this year following the introduction of taxation. Company managing director Marcelo Nico said the decision was tied to the establishment of legal clarity, noting that nicotine products must be regulated to prevent youth access while remaining available to adult smokers seeking alternatives.

“Our vision is to create a smoke-free world,” Nico said, adding that the products are intended for adult users and should not appeal to minors. He emphasized that regulation is essential to ensure controlled distribution and responsible marketing.

Health experts, however, argue that the risks remain significant. Pulmonologist Sofia Belo Ravara warned that nicotine pouches are often promoted with flavours such as mint, mango and berries, making them particularly attractive to younger consumers. She said aggressive marketing campaigns and social media promotion have contributed to rising usage among youth.

“Flavours make the experience more pleasant and increase nicotine dependence,” she said, adding that nicotine is rapidly absorbed through the oral mucosa, maintaining steady levels in the body and reinforcing addiction.

In Portugal, each pouch can contain up to 12 mg of nicotine, raising concerns among specialists about exposure levels. Although they do not involve tobacco combustion, Ravara stressed that nicotine still affects brain development, particularly in adolescents, impacting memory, attention and impulse control, while increasing risks of anxiety and depression.

International experience is also shaping the debate. In Denmark, nicotine pouches entered the market without strict regulation, leading to widespread youth use within a few years. By 2025, an estimated 14 percent of young people aged 15 to 29 were users. Authorities have since introduced flavour bans, packaging rules and nicotine limits, though enforcement challenges persist, especially online.

The WHO has urged governments to adopt stricter controls, including advertising bans, age verification systems, flavour restrictions and clear health warnings. It also warns that industry marketing strategies are designed to normalize nicotine use among young people.

Portugal’s government has recently approved a draft framework to regulate nicotine pouches, with proposals under consideration including advertising limits, sales restrictions and possible flavour bans. While industry representatives argue for balanced regulation to protect adult access, health experts insist that precautionary measures are needed to prevent long-term public health consequences.

New research from Hong Kong suggests that people seeking to reduce belly fat and improve heart health may not need to exercise several times a week to see results.

A study published in Nature Communications found that interval training performed once weekly can be just as effective as exercising three times a week, provided the total amount of exercise remains the same.

The findings may offer encouragement to people struggling to maintain regular fitness routines due to work, family responsibilities or limited time.

Researchers at the School of Public Health at the University of Hong Kong focused on abdominal obesity, a condition closely linked to cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders and a higher risk of premature death. Excess fat around the abdomen is considered particularly harmful because it surrounds vital organs and contributes to serious long-term health problems.

The study examined whether fewer but concentrated exercise sessions could deliver similar benefits to more frequent training schedules.

The research team tested a form of exercise known as interval training, which combines short bursts of intense activity with periods of slower movement or rest. In this case, participants alternated brisk walking with slower walking.

Scientists say interval training can burn visceral fat more quickly than steady, continuous exercise because of the repeated shifts in intensity.

The clinical trial ran from September 2021 to September 2024 and involved 315 adults in Hong Kong who had abdominal obesity.

Participants were divided into three groups. One group completed 75 minutes of interval training in a single weekly session. A second group performed the same total of 75 minutes divided into three 25-minute sessions each week. A third control group received only health education and did not participate in the exercise programme.

After 16 weeks, both exercise groups recorded similar improvements.

Researchers found reductions in total body fat, body fat percentage and waist circumference regardless of whether participants exercised once or three times weekly. Cardiorespiratory fitness, which measures how efficiently the heart and lungs function during activity, also improved to nearly the same degree in both groups.

Professor Parco Siu Ming-Fai, head of the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Hong Kong and lead author of the study, said the findings challenge common assumptions about workout frequency.

“Current guidelines usually recommend exercising three times a week, but our study shows that if the total weekly exercise time stays the same, splitting it into fewer, higher-quality sessions produces similar results,” he said.

Researchers believe the results could help shape more flexible exercise recommendations, especially for people who find it difficult to commit to frequent gym visits while still aiming to manage weight and improve overall health.