Children need to be more active in winter, study shows

Children may not be getting the amount of exercise they require during the winter months, according to a new report.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have assessed levels of physical activity in more than 700 seven-year-old children across a calendar year using accelerometers, in order to examine seasonal variations in behaviour.

It was found that that physical activity was lower in autumn and winter compared to spring, with average activity levels peaking in April at 65.3 minutes per day, while falling to a nadir of 47.8 minutes per day in February.

Physical activity was at its lowest at weekends during winter, while children were at their most active during early summer, particularly at weekends.

Gender differences were also highlighted by the study, with boys' activity levels changing more than girls' throughout the year, but remained higher than girls' at all times. Male children achieved the recommended minimum activity even in winter, whereas females only tended to reach this threshold in summer.

Senior study author Dr Esther van Sluijs said: "Children need to be given more opportunities to be active, particularly during the winter months and when the weather is bad."