Kids with autism more 'inactive' than counterparts

A new study has explored that kids who suffer from autism are more "inactive" as compared to those kids who are not suffering from the disorder.

The study conducted at Oregon State University suggested that kids suffering from autism have less than 50 minutes a day of moderate physical activity and 70 minutes more each day sitting.

The study showed that children with autism performed as well as their typical peers on fitness assessments such as body mass index, aerobic fitness levels and flexibility.

Megan MacDonald, an assistant professor in OSU's College of Public Health and Human Sciences, said that these kids, compared to their peers, were similarly fit, and that was really exciting, because it meant those underlying fitness abilities were there.

Researchers tested the fitness and physical activity levels of 17 children with autism and 12 children without autism.

MacDonald said that even though kids with autism were more sedentary, the children with autism lagged behind their peers on only one fitness measure, the strength test.

The study is published in the journal Autism Research and Treatment.