Young people are more active than adults probably suspected, but that's still not active enough, researchers say.

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September 17, 2001

By Howard LeWine, M.D.
Harvard Medical School

How does this article relate to you?

This article states that children, on average, are getting more than the currently recommended amount of exercise — 30 minutes of moderate activity and 60 minutes of low-intensity activity daily. But our kids still are getting heavier and their risk of developing diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate.

For me, the most likely explanation is that while some children are getting much more exercise, many others are very inactive. The other possibility is that what is considered enough exercise for adults is not enough for children.

What changes do you need to make?

Motivating your children to dedicate 30-45 minutes to exercise per day is tough if they are not engaged in a sport that has fitness as part of their practice sessions. The take-home message for me is: Don't try to have what works for you inspire them.

I have been trying it for two years with my 10-year-old with no success. I will now move to short spurts of activity. Kick the soccer ball back and forth for 15 minutes. Play a 10-minute game of tag. Let her rest on our bike rides, but challenge her to a couple of short races. If you can't participate, watch and cheer.

What can you expect in the future?

You can expect to learn much more about how much activity children need and how to make it more fun.

Related links:

Children's Health

Fitness