Most Kids Don't Get Enough Exercise

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - It is a discouraging statistic. Only 25% of kids get enough exercise: 60 minutes of physical activity every single day. This, according to the CDC, which monitored 12-15-year-olds and said physical activity is any sort of activity that causes them to breathe harder and causes their hearts to beat faster.

Of the children studied who did get this exercise, basketball and running were the two most popular activities among boys followed by football, bike riding and walking.

Girls' most popular physical activities were running and walking followed by basketball, dancing, and bike riding.

It was also found that a significantly greater percentage of normal-weight teens are physically active daily when compared to obese teens. Important because children and adolescents who are obese are more likely to be obese as adults, and therefore are at greater risk for adult health problems like heart disease, diabetes, stroke and other health issues.