Moving the clocks forward by one extra hour all year in the UK could lead to children getting more exercise every day, say researchers.
Their study of 23,000 children found that daily activity levels were 15% to 20% higher on summer days than winter days.
The UK research team said increasing waking daylight hours would have a worthwhile benefit on public health.
The clocks are set to go back by one hour this weekend across the UK. This will result in darker afternoons and fewer hours of daylight after children finish school.
Researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the University of Bristol analysed the activity levels of this large group of children aged five to 16 years old in nine countries, including England and Australia.
All the children wore accelerometers or electronic devices around their waists that measured body movement.
The results, published in the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, suggest that longer evening daylight can help keep children active for longer.
Proposals to shift the clocks forward by one additional hour for the whole year and not move them back in October, have been debated in parliament at various times over the years, but never been made law.
More Follow these topics: Circadian Rhythms, Daylight Saving Time, Public Health
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