KEY POINTS:
Children need at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day to keep their brains in shape, according to Sport and Recreation New Zealand.
Its new guidelines say this is the minimum to improve the physical and mental health of 5 to 18-year-olds.
New Zealand is one of the first five countries to adopt physical activity guidelines for children and young people.
Sparc, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education, in consultation with the Ministry of Youth Development, produced the guidelines in response to mounting international evidence.
"The evidence on this topic is relatively new, but overwhelming," said Deb Hurdle, Sparc's Push Play manager. "Increased physical activity levels in children and young people lead to improved physical and mental health. Put simply, children and young people who are active are healthier."
The guidelines, which define moderate activity as the equivalent of a brisk walk and vigorous activity as one that causes people to "huff and puff", will help in the design and evaluation of health and lifestyle programmes from a variety of agencies, including Sparc, that target the need for physical activity in children and young people in New Zealand.
"The opportunities to be active are virtually limitless, said Ms Hurdle.
"Whether it's through play, dance, sport, cultural activities or walking to and from school or work, physical activity is an integral part of every child and teenager's development and should be provided for in their daily life within and outside the school environment."
The guidelines for children and young people in New Zealand are in addition to the current guidelines for adults, which have been in place since 1996.
Physical activity guidelines for adults - at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week - have not changed.
GUIDELINES
* 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day.
* Be active in as many ways as possible, through play, cultural activities, dance, sport, at home and with family.
* Spend less than two hours a day (out of school time) in front of TV, computers and game consoles.
- NZPA
