HEALTH UPDATE: vigorous activity helps children to stay slim

Intense, vigorous exercise is more effective in helping children avoid obesity and stay fit than low-intensity activity.
Obesity and poor cardiovascular fitness are growing problems among children world-wide. Researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Huddinge, Sweden found that physical activity is proven to fight both of these epidemics.
Evidence is mounting that more intense activity may be more effective in preventing excess weight gain. To investigate how the amount and intensity of the activity might be related to obesity and fitness in children, the researchers looked at 780, 9 and 10-year-old children and measured their activity levels over four consecutive days using a device called an accelerometer.
The children who engaged in vigorous physical activity for more than 40 minutes daily had less body fat than those who were active for just 10 to 18 minutes a day, and also had higher cardiovascular fitness.