How Much Should Kids Exercise?
Researchers found that children aged 9 to 17 need a minimum of 7 minutes of vigorous physical activity per day. But what exactly does this mean?
Ben Greenfield
A recent study used monitors to track children’s physical activity levels for seven consecutive days. Researchers found that children aged 9 to 17 need a minimum of 7 minutes of vigorous physical activity per day.
But what exactly does this mean? That you should kick your kids outdoors for 7 minutes a day, or that the average length of a PE class should be 7 minutes?
More specifically, what this study found was that although children don’t need a lot of intense physical activity to get the health benefits of exercise, at least 7 minutes of intense exercise per day is the minimum necessary to prevent weight gain, obesity and chronic health risks.
See also: Mighty Mommy’s Fun Ways to Keep Your Kids Active
But if you want a child to be lean, fit, or have athletic superiority, they are definitely going to need more exercise that that! Sadly, the study noted, many children tend to spend nearly 70 % of their time being sedentary, with only 23% of time devoted to “light” physical activity, 7% to moderate physical activity, and a paltry 0.6% to vigorous physical activity.
Ultimately, the take away message is this: Just like adults, kids need brief bouts of intense 
exercise accompanied by standing more, walking more, and staying generally physically active to maintain optimal health.
See also: How to Get Your Kids Fit
If you have more questions about how much kids should exercise, then ask away at the Get-Fit Guy Facebook page.
Portrait of three cyclists from Shutterstock
About the Author
Ben Greenfield received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Idaho in sports science and exercise physiology; personal training and strength and conditioning certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA); a sports nutrition certification from the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), an advanced bicycle fitting certification from Serotta. He has over 11 years’ experience in coaching professional, collegiate, and recreational athletes from all sports, and as helped hundreds of clients achieve weight loss and fitness success.