Under embargo: Most preschoolers failing to meet daily physical activity guidelines, study suggests

Externally peer reviewed: Yes
Evidence type: Observational study
Subjects: People

UNDER STRICT EMBARGO until 12 noon  [UK GMT] on Monday 24 November 2025

Most preschoolers failing to meet daily physical activity guidelines, study suggests

[Filming opportunity available: see notes to editors]

Fewer than 1 in 4 children aged 2 to 4 meet the recommended daily physical activity levels, a new study has found.  Additionally, while children are much more active on days when they attend early years settings, most preschoolers are not meeting the recommended activity levels within early years settings or at home.

The University of Bristol-led research analysed data from 419 preschool-aged children (49.6% boys) attending early years providers in 4 different local authorities in England (Somerset, Swindon, and Sandwell) and Scotland (Arran and Ayrshire).  This is the first accelerometer-based comparison of physical activity in preschoolers across days spent within early years settings and days spent outside of the setting.

Using activity belts (accelerometers), the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)-funded study examined how children’s physical activity levels varied between weekdays and weekends. 

The study, carried out in collaboration with the universities of Birmingham, Glasgow and Cardiff, is published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health today [24 November].

The researchers assessed the children’s activity patterns for a week when they were in early years settings and outside of settings. 

Key findings include:

• Children aged 2 to 4 were significantly more active (on average 15 minutes) on days when they attended early years settings.

• Less than a quarter (23%) of preschoolers met the World Health Organisation (WHO) activity guidelines of 180 minutes of daily physical activity, and just 2.4% achieved the target of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity.
• 8% more boys met the activity guidelines.
• Girls were significantly less likely to meet these guidelines than boys, while older children were more likely to meet the targets.

• Outside of early years settings, the least deprived children were more active than the most deprived.  Whereas, when children were in early years settings activity levels were similar.   

• Early years settings play an important role in providing opportunities to be more active and reducing inequalities.

Dr Kim Hannam, Research Fellow in the Bristol Medical School: Population Health Sciences (PHS), and senior author on the study, said: “These findings highlight a critical gap in physical activity among preschoolers.

“While early years settings provide a more active environment, most children are still not achieving the movement levels needed for healthy growth and development.

“Our study highlights the need for coordinated strategies between policymakers, educators, and families to support early childhood physical activity.”

Ruth Kipping, Professor of Public Health in the Bristol Medical School: PHS, added: “Low levels of physical activity in early childhood can impact on children’s healthy development and increase the risk of a range of chronic conditions in later life.

“Early years settings play an important role in promoting physical activity and reducing inequalities, especially as government-funded childcare expands. However, the low proportion of children meeting activity guidelines highlights the need for continued investment and research to support healthy development in the early years.”

The researchers suggest that interventions to increase activity levels should focus on both Early Years settings and home environments. Strengthened national policy, parental engagement, and play-friendly environments could help ensure young children build the foundations for lifelong health.

Paper

‘Accelerometer measured physical activity in UK early childhood education and care settings: a cross-sectional study’ by Kipping, Ruth, Jago, Russell and Hannam, Kim et al. in Journal of Physical Activity and Health [open access].

An accompanying Policy briefing is available to download here.

. . . ENDS

Further information:

Early years settings in the study included day nurseries, private nursery school, maintained nursery including nurseries within Children’s Centres, a nursery class attached to primary school, or a pre-school.

The NAP SACC UK study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Public Health Research Programme (12/75/51).

The overall NAP SACC UK Trial which the data for this study is based on was designed and delivered in collaboration with the universities of Birmingham, Glasgow and Cardiff as well as the Bristol Trials Centre (BTC), a UKCRC Registered Clinical Trials Unit which receives NIHR CTU Support Funding.
Notes to editors:

A copy of the press preview paper is available on request.

The post embargo link for the paper – DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2025-0316

Filming opportunity: A nursery setting in Wellington, Somerset, that was involved in the study.

For further information or to arrange an interview with Dr Kim Hannam and Professor Ruth Kipping at the University of Bristol please contact Joanne Fryer [Mon to Wed], email joanne.fryer@bristol.ac.uk, mobile +44 (0)7747 768805 or Caroline Clancy [Wed to Fri], email caroline.clancy@bristol.ac.uk, mobile: +44 (0)7776 170238 in the University of Bristol News and Content team.

About the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
The mission of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. We do this by:

• Funding high quality, timely research that benefits the NHS, public health and social care;
• Investing in world-class expertise, facilities and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services;
• Partnering with patients, service users, carers and communities, improving the relevance, quality and impact of our research;
• Attracting, training and supporting the best researchers to tackle complex health and social care challenges;
• Collaborating with other public funders, charities and industry to help shape a cohesive and globally competitive research system;
• Funding applied global health research and training to meet the needs of the poorest people in low and middle income countries.

NIHR is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. Its work in low and middle income countries is principally funded through UK Aid from the UK government.

Issued by the Research News and Content team at the University of Bristol