Children’s exercise levels fall before adolescence, study highlights

A new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has indicated that children start to take part in less exercise from the age of seven, contrary to reports citing a decline during adolescence.

In Timing of the decline in physical activity in childhood and adolescence, the researchers tracked the activity levels of the children over eight years using monitors worn for a week at a time. The amount of exercise the children did was measured at age seven, nine, 12 and 15.

The findings of the study highlighted that on average boys spent 75 minutes a day exercising when they were seven, falling to 51 minutes when they were 15. The average girl spent 63 minutes per day doing moderate to strenuous physical activity when seven years old, which fell to 41 minutes age 15.

Meanwhile, one in five of the boys examined managed to maintain their exercise levels over the full eight years, all of whom had recorded the highest levels of physical exercise at age seven.

Prof John Reilly, study author from the University of Strathclyde, explained: “Activity tails off from around the time of going to school, when there's a change in lifestyle. Schools should be more active environments. There should be more activity breaks to break up long periods of sitting."

Eustace de Sousa, national lead for children, young people and families at Public Health England, added: "It's a major concern that one in five children leaves primary school obese.

"Most children don't do enough physical activity, which has consequences for their health now and in the future.

"It's up to all of us to ensure children get their recommended one hour of physical activity a day."