London, Nov 25 : Seventy one percent parents think their children are 'active enough' but only 10 percent children say they do the recommended exercise, according to a survey.

British Heart Foundation (BHF) questioned nearly 1,000 parents with children aged eight to 15.

Their report 'Couch Kids' shows that while the number of obese children has risen since the mid-1990s, there have been no major changes in children's physical activity levels over the past decade.

"Regular physical activity is vital for children to reduce their chances of becoming obese and developing Type 2 diabetes," said Libby Dowling, care advisor at Diabetes UK.

"It is recommended that children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. This does not have to be all in one go; it can be in chunks of about 15 to 20 minutes throughout the day," said Dowling.

"Parents have a key part to play in controlling their children's weight. Encouraging them to be fit and active by simply walking to school or playing football in the garden are great ways to give children the start in life they deserve," Dowling said.(IANS)