Attempting to pressure or guilt youngsters into exercising can be counterproductive and lead to increased levels of inactivity, according to a new study.

Researchers from the University of Georgia (UGA) found students who don't feel in control of their exercise choices or who feel pressured by adults to be more active, typically aren't. Their study, published in the September issue of the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, concluded that adolescents who feel they can make their own decisions about exercising are more likely to see themselves as a person who exercises, increasing the likelihood of physical activity.

The study's lead author Rod Dishman – a professor of kinesiology in the UGA College of Education – said attitudes towards exercise are particularly important between the ages of 10 and 12, when many children decrease their activity levels by 50 per cent.

"Our results confirm that the beliefs these kids hold are related to physical activity levels," said Dishman. "But can we put these children in situations where they come to value and enjoy the act of being physically active?"

Dishman and a team of researchers are now exploring ways to help children identify with exercise from a younger age to establish early positive associations with physical activity.

The findings come as wellbeing provider Nuffield Health has launched a pilot scheme to fund a ‘head of wellbeing’ in a UK school for children aged 11-18. The scheme sees the two-year secondment of a head of wellbeing to help develop and implement a health and wellbeing strategy at the school, with a strong focus on physical activity.

As well as being shown to help children be more confident and achieve better results at school, recent research has highlighted that forming an exercise habit in early teens can also reduce the risk of cancer in later life and help stave off diabetes.