Kids need minimum of 30 mins of exercise during a day....New Study

The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology now recommends a minimum of 30 minutes a day.

Children and teens need less daily exercise than previously thought, a new study says.

Previous guidelines recommended children ages five to 17 get at least 90 minutes of daily physical activity. However, the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology now recommends a minimum of 30 minutes a day - but 60 minutes or more would be better.

The Public Health Agency of Canada funded the society's research.

"We hope that these new findings will inspire inactive or sedentary Canadians of all ages to add more physical activity to their lives," said Dr. Mark Tremblay.

The study says most physical activity should be aerobic, such as walking, skating or riding a bike.

Activities like running and playing soccer should be done at least three times a week, the new guidelines say. Activities like skipping, jumping and playing in a park - which help build bone and muscle mass - should also be done three times a week.

As little as 30 minutes of exercise a day will produce health benefits, but the study says 60 minutes to several hours of moderate physical activity would be better.

"Some is good but more is clearly better," Tremblay said.

The research shows the more variety, intensity and longer duration, the greater the benefit. But reaching the minimum physical activity recommendations still helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure and reduce the risk of diabetes.

The minimum threshold to see health benefits has also been reduced for adults. The study says adults need 90 minutes of vigorous exercise a week, or 150 minutes of moderate physical activity.

Previous guidelines had recommended 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity "most days of the week.² Brisk walking, swimming, raking leaves, jogging, hockey, aerobics, weight training and tennis are listed as options for adults to get exercise.