University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Research by Dr. Robert H. Bradley, professor in the UALR Center for Applied Research in Education, has been published by the “Journal of the American Medical Association” indicating that girls stop getting adequate exercise at age 12 or 13 and boys at age 13 or 14.

Bradley co-authored the paper with colleagues from the Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla; the Research Triangle Park in North Carolina, and Department of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of North Carolina.

Bradley said the research sought to determine at what age children typically fell below the one hour of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity required to keep weight gain at bay.

“Decreased physical activity plays a critical role in the increase in childhood obesity,” he said. “Although at least 60 minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is recommended, few longitudinal studies have determined the recent patterns of physical activity of youth.”

The study analyzed the physical activity of 1,032 boys and girls from ages nine to 15.

“Most of the nine- and 10-year old children met the 60 minute standard of moderate to vigorous activity,” Bradley said. “The key was the rapid drop-off. By 12-13 years of age, almost none did.”

The researcher said the average age at which girls dropped below the recommended 60 minutes of activity per day on week days was 12.6 years on weekends and 13.1 years for weekdays. Boys fell below the recommended 60 minutes per day at 13.4 on weekends and 14.7 for weekdays.