Health Questions & Answers
Kids and Exercise

by Gary Emmett, MD

As parents, we often have questions about all kinds of health issues relating to our kids - from illness to prevention to child development. Come ask the experts what you want to know about pediatric health! A selection of answers to your questions will be posted on the site each week.

The question:
How much physical exercise does a child need each week?

The Pediatrician Answers:

We know that 1 to 2 hours of vigorous aerobic exercise (exercise where one moves his or her body through space) every other day has a maximal health benefit in adults. Children need at least this much if not more and they are less likely to get hurt doing it.

The type of exercise does not seem to matter with taking a walk at top speed was as good as running or biking or swimming. The goal is to get the base heart rate to double during the exercise. Anaerobic exercise such as weightlifting does not harm, but does not help physical fitness.

Why do we need exercise? We know it prolongs life, decrease number of infections, makes one feel happier and, probably most importantly, builds bones so that older people do not have as many fractures.

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About the author: Gary Emmett, MD, is the Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is Director of General Pediatrics for the Jefferson Health System and Director of the Well Baby Nursery for Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Methodist Hospital, as well as President of the Philadelphia Pediatric Society. The father of four teens, Dr Emmett still sees at least 100 office visits weekly.