Children in England and Wales are among the most inactive in the world

New data reveals England, Scotland and Wales are near the bottom of a global league table on children's activity levels.

The study, conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), was based on children aged 11, 13 and 15 living in 44 countries within Europe, Central Asia and Canada and included over 4,000 children living in England, Wales and Scotland.

The research found children in England, Wales and Scotland performed poorly on markers such as brisk walking, with experts stating day-to-day exercise was “largely disappearing from young people’s lives”.

Highlighting many young people often skip breakfast, the research also found that children are still not consuming enough fruit and vegetables to meet healthy eating recommendations.

30 per cent of girls and 18 per cent of boys in England were inactive across all age groups surveyed, while the figure in Wales was 27 per cent for girls and 17 per cent for boys. In Scotland, 21 per cent of girls were inactive alongside 12 per cent of boys.

The research also highlighted significant disparities, particularly in the UK, between children from affluent families and those from poorer backgrounds, with the latter far less likely to eat well or exercise.