Research finds that poorer children missing out on exercise

New research from Sport England suggests that, when it comes to getting enough exercise, wealthier children are beating their poorer classmates.

The second annual Active Lives Children and Young People Survey shows that children’s activity levels are on the rise, with figures showing an increase of 3.6 per cent in the number of children in England doing an average of 60 minutes or more of physical activity a day.

It means that 46.8 per cent of the nation’s children and young people are meeting the recommended level, with the increase driven by more out of school activity – including increases in active play, team sports and walking.

However, when analysed further, the data shows that only 42 per cent of children from low-income households do the recommended 60 minutes' exercise a day, compared with 54 per cent of children from better-off homes. Children from more affluent homes also enjoy exercise more, with 43 per cent of those from poor homes saying they enjoyed being active, compared with 59 per cent of those from wealthy families.