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Exercise and children

Alternative Names

Children and exercise

Information

Lack of physical activity is contributing to a dangerous increase in obesity in children. Children need to have plenty of physical activity, but a formal exercise plan is not usually the best approach.

Children should be given many opportunities to play, run, bike, and participate in sports, preferably on a daily basis. Encourage your child to build strength, flexibility and aerobic capacity (for example, through running).

Children generally shouldn't be expected to exercise in the routine, formal way adults do (such as walking three miles every day or lifting weights). In fact, they should not lift heavy weights at all prior to puberty, since significant damage to growing bones and tendons can occur.

See also:

References

Feigelman S. Middle childhood. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 11.

Review Date: 12/8/2008
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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