Just 13% of UK teenage girls active every day, WHO figures show

Experts have warned that more needs to be done to boost the exercise levels of UK teenagers - with just 13% of teenage girls active every day.

Researchers from the World Health Organization (WHO) have analysed the physical activity levels globally of 3.2 million children and teenagers aged 11-17.

Just 14% of teenagers worldwide are thought to be active every day - with 25% inactive for the entire week.

In the UK, only one in six adolescents (17%) is exercising each day - 13% of teenage girls and 21% of boys.

It is lagging behind countries such as Finland, where 28% of teenagers are active every day, and Canada - where a quarter (25%) report at least an hour of moderate-to-vigorous activity each day.

Moderate activity could include brisk walking, riding a bike or dancing - while vigorous activities cover running, swimming, skipping or fast cycling.

The study's lead author, Dr Tessa Strain of the University of Edinburgh, said: "We see pronounced inequalities in the UK: girls are much less active than boys, and older teens are less active than younger teens.

"We need to make being active the easy and enjoyable choice.

"Adolescents need safe routes to walk, cycle, wheel or scoot to school. They need green spaces to explore. They need opportunities to be active throughout the school day, not just in PE."

UK health officials recommend that those aged five to 18 should aim for at least 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous intensity physical activity a day, which can be spread throughout the week.

On average, UK teenagers are thought to be active for four days a week.

The study - which has been published in the journal Lancet Global Health - claims there has been "no improvement in adolescent physical activity since 2010 globally and in most regions".

It also states that activity levels among teenagers declined as they got older.

Researchers found that 11-year-olds reported 4.6 active days each week, while 17-year-olds reported 3.6.

It comes after figures released this week also show rising levels of obesity among young children in England.

Approximately 10.7% of children in reception year at primary school are obese, along with 22.8% of those in Year 6, according to the statistics published by the National Childhood Measurement programme.

More from Sky News:
King cracks umbrella joke after Caribbean soaking
Wall Street edges higher after midterm results

Health minister James Frith told LBC Radio: "It's a daily struggle as a parent to ensure that your child is learning about diet, the consequences of not doing exercise or indeed eating the wrong things.

"But this government has brought in breakfast clubs, free school meals...in our school system, as well as initiatives like the Daily Mile and Healthy Start.

"Government takes very seriously the issue of obesity, and very often, its association with our poorest communities accessing takeaways or fast food."

(c) Sky News 2026: Just 13% of UK teenage girls active every day, WHO figures show