Fidgeting is usually considered as a sign of boredom or lack of attention which can be distracting to others. Parents and teachers often demand that their children and pupils stop doing it. But fidgeting could actually be good for their health. Research suggests it might help protect against obesity, improve cardiovascular health, and even save lives.
In our recent study, we measured the energy expenditure of 40 children aged 4 to 6, while they each spent an hour in a “whole-room calorimeter.” This is a chamber the size of a small bedroom, in which energy expenditure is accurately measured from the amount of oxygen inhaled and the amount of carbon dioxide exhaled.
