The more active a mother is, the more active her child is likely to be, according to new research published in Pediatrics.

Researchers from Cambridge and Southampton worked together for the study, which observed the patterns of 554 mothers and four-year-olds over a period of seven days.

Experts used heart rate monitors combined with an accelerometer to measure levels of physical activity, with the results showing a direct, positive association between physical activity in children and their mothers.

Having collated the results, scientists were able to show that for every minute of moderate-to-vigorous activity the mother undertook, her child was more likely to take part in 10 per cent more of the same level of activity.

In contrast, results also showed that for every minute a mother was sedentary, their child would be sedentary for 0.18 minutes longer.

The research has found that many mothers' levels of exercise often fall beyond recommended levels. Some factors that seemed to influence activity were related to whether the mother had a job and whether the child had brothers or sisters.

"There are many competing priorities for new parents and making time to be active may not always be top of the list,” said Kathryn Hesketh, research associate at the Institute of Child Health at University College London, which helped to co-lead the study.

“However, small increases in maternal activity levels may lead to benefits for mothers and children."

Given the consequences of the study, its researchers are suggesting that policies created to improve children's health should be aimed at mothers.

More information on the study is available to view here.