Introduction: healthy eating habits and physical activity have been shown to be beneficial for physical and psychological health in adolescents. Objective: to describe the perceived barriers and the aspects that motivate adolescents from educational establishments on healthy eating and regular physical activity. Method: qualitative research of explanatory phenomenological design. The information was obtained through 4 focus groups with adolescents of both sexes (32 participants) in the city of Santiago. Results: perceived barriers and motivations regarding healthy eating and physical activity were detected in all groups of adolescents, providing a total of 96 units of analysis. Conclusion: different barriers and motivations perceived by adolescents regarding healthy eating and physical activity were identified, the ones that stand out are time, family, friends, social and multicultural components.