We all know that children should regularly exercise, as it helps boost their metabolism. Though many of them get to play and roughhouse with other kids, that doesn't guarantee they’re getting the right amount of exercise they need. According to a study featured on ScienceDaily.com, children require at least seven minutes of intense physical activity on a daily basis to remain perfectly healthy.

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Alberta in Canada, involved analyzing data on 600 children from ages nine to 17. The volunteers had their weight, waistline, blood pressure, and physical activity levels tracked for a week.

The researchers found that the participants spent 70 percent of their time being sedentary--23 percent did light physical activities, while only 0.6 percent engaged in vigorous exercises. Boys were also found to be more dynamic than girls. The study revealed that games and pursuits that required intense physical activity kept children from being overweight and helped overweight children improve their fitness levels.

Getting physical doesn't need to be tedious. Encourage your child to play with other children and allow him to engage in a sport that he's interested in. After all, it’s always good to start young.

(Photo by CIA DE FOTO via Flickr Creative Commons)