A new study has shown the number of children across Oxfordshire reaching the recommended activity quota has exceeded pre-pandemic levels.
The annual Active Lives survey questioned 703 respondents on their activity levels.
It was completed by Sport England, a charity which seeks to make exercise accessible for all.
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During the 2022-23 academic year 48 per cent of children and young people were categorised as ‘active’ in Oxfordshire, the survey found.
This marked a rise from pre-pandemic levels, with 47 per cent of children meeting this quota in 2017-18.
The label ‘active’ is used to describe children who do an hour or more of physical activity daily.
A further 25 per cent of children in Oxfordshire were classed as ‘fairly active’, which means they complete between thirty minutes and an hour of activity daily.
The chief medical officer, Sir Chris Whitty, recommends children aged between five and 18-years-old complete an hour of physical activity per day across the week.
Oxfordshire compared favourably to the rest of the country as the national average saw 47 per cent of children classified as ‘active’.
While the study demonstrated an increase in the county’s exercise levels from before the Covid pandemic, it remains that over half of children in Oxfordshire are not meeting the recommended physical activity levels.
Ansaf Azhar, the director of public health at Oxfordshire Country Council, stressed the importance of physical activity to overall health in his annual report.
He wrote: “Regular physical activity builds strength and improves balance, concentration and mental wellbeing. It reduces the risk of many common and serious illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers.”
He added: “Our residents all deserve the opportunity to be healthy no matter where they live. This means access to opportunities to be active.”
The latest figures also show 52 per cent of children and young people in the Cherwell District area were classed as 'active'.
Tim Hollingsworth, chief executive of Sport England, echoed this statement and said: “Too many children and young people are missing out on the benefits of living an active life.”
He stressed the advantages of physical activity for children’s “physical health but also mental well-being”.
He highlighted how exercise can provide children with the opportunity to “form positive social connections with friends and their communities".
Sports minister Stuart Andrew said the study’s findings “underlined the need for more action” regarding children’s activity levels.
He called for a “greater concerted focus across government departments” on increasing the amount of exercise completed country wide.
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