New study suggests children are not getting enough physical activity

The Newcastle University Biomedicine pages report on a new study of the physical activity levels of 500 8- to 10-year-olds. It is widely thought that children are not getting enough exercise today, and this study - which saw the children wearing activity monitors, provides some objective evidence of that.

The researchers found:

Children spent only 4% of awake time in moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity, this is about 20 minutes per day while the recommended amount for health is 60 minutes per day. 

At age 8, girls were already less active than boys - something known to occur at secondary school - but this study has shown that the difference in physical activity between boys and girls starts much earlier on. 

Older fathers tended to have less active children. 

Children who took part in sports clubs outside of school were significantly more active than those who did not. 

Parents who restricted access to television were actually shown to have children who were less active.

The whole paper can be read on the PLoS ONE site.