Physical activity guidelines for young people

This set of guidelines applies to children and young people aged between 5 and 18 years. During this period, children and young people establish behaviour patterns that have important implications for both their immediate and long-term health and well-being.

Physical activity guidelines for children and young people

• All children and young people should engage in moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity for at least 60 minutes and up to several hours every day.
• Vigorous intensity activities, including those that strengthen muscle and bone, should be incorporated at least three days a week.
• All children and young people should minimise the amount of time spent being sedentary (sitting) for extended periods. 

These guidelines are designed to help early years professionals and practitioners understand the type and amount of physical activity children and young people should do to benefit their health. We are currently developing resources which will translate these guidelines into appropriate physical activity messages for young people and their parents.

Support and dissemination

BHF National Centre 

We are currently developing resources for professionals and practitioners who work with children and young people. We are also working with the British Heart Foundation to produce resources for this age group.

Department of Health
To support these guidelines the Department of Health has produced a factsheet summarising the guidelines for this age group.

Download Factsheet 3: Children and young people (5-18 years)

Change4Life

Change4Life has a range of tools and ideas to help children and young people be more active. For further information visit www.nhs.uk/Change4Life/Pages/change-for-life-families

NHS Choices

NHS Choices is the country's biggest health website and provides information to allow people to make choices about their health. For NHS Choices' information about physical activity in the early years visit www.nhs.uk/livewell/fitness/pages/physical-activity-guidelines-for-young-people