Children who live in smart, modern neighbourhoods, which are planned with parks and green spaces, are significantly more active than those who live in conventional neighbourhoods, according to a study by the American Journal of Preventative Medicine.

The study, undertaken by the School of Public Health at the University of California, asked eight to 14-year-olds to wear accelerometers and GPS devices to measure activity levels outside the home, within the neighbourhood.

Those in the better neighbourhood did an average of 10 more minutes of exercise a day. Researchers say this is a significant amount when built up over time.

In the smart community, younger children, aged six to 11, were 62 per cent more active than 12 to 19-year-olds. Boys were 42 per cent more active than girls.

The importance of open spaces to play is emphasised by Tam Fry, honorary chair of the Child Growth Foundation. He says that an increasingly obesigenic environment is being created in the UK, with parks being sold for housing and classrooms being built in playgrounds. “To be healthy children don’t need to take part in formal sport, they just need open spaces to run in,” he says.