Two separate studies have revealed that while it is never to late to start exercising, you can never be too young either.

The Journal of the American Heart Association revealed that six months of regular exercise could actually reverse the negative effects of aerobic inactivity, restoring people to their previous levels of fitness, even after as long as 30 years.

But the National Association for Sport and Physical Education, also in the US, has released guidelines recommending that children should be as active as possible, even from birth.

The association claims active babies learn to move more skilfully, and long hours of inactivity may hinder cognitive development.