A long-term study by Switzerland's Federal Office of Sport (BASPO) has found that the physical fitness of male military conscripts has declined steadily over the past 19 years, with average scores on army fitness tests falling from 74.2 points in 2006 to 70.4 points today — even as participation in sport across the country has risen sharply. Researchers point to two key explanations: popular activities such as gym workouts do not adequately develop the core strength, endurance, and coordination tested by the military, and young men increasingly overestimate their own fitness, with those describing themselves as "trained" rising from 40% to 56% over the same period. The study also flags the Covid-19 pandemic's lasting impact on physical activity and a structural shift within the army itself, as the average age at recruitment has risen — and older conscripts consistently score lower on fitness tests.