Children are the least fit and the fattest they have ever been, but it would take one "relatively small adjustment" to eradicate the problem.
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A report authored by Canberrans is set to be shot to global prominence when it is tabled in Nairobi as part of a UN conference on urban habitats.
According to the findings of the Shaping Spaces for Gen Z report, which was the result of a forum at the University of Canberra in March, there is one priority action, with two further proposals also "worthy of implementation".
The report was prepared in collaboration with the UC and Urban Synergies Group.
UC professor of public health Tom Cochrane said the behaviour patterns of children was key to increasing their physical activity, which was optimally one hour per day.
"Only about 31 per cent of boys achieved that, and about 14 per cent of girls," he said.
The main findings are based on data gathered by Rob de Castella's SmartStart charity, Mr Cochrane said.
He said those numbers needed to change.
"The bottom line is kids could do with more opportunities to be active. We all have to work together to make that happen."
He said the easiest example to implement, and one that is already taking hold in Canberra, is to create safe, secure school drop off points a kilometre or so from schools.
"A lot of work has been done in Canberra on that, but we still have to get parents to use it," Mr Cochrane said.
"Kids should have the opportunity to walk, or use active transport like a scooter, to get at least part of the way to school."
Mr Cochrane said because of its design the territory had the best chance to do something about the problem compared to other areas.
"Canberra is an absolutely fantastic city, we do not make best use of that space that we have around us," he said.
He praised co-author of the report, Urban Synergies Group founder and director Gregor Mews, for bringing the findings to international attention.
Mr Mews is travelling to Kenya to table the report this week. He said the efforts to solve the problem of childhood ill health so far "aren't good enough".
"It's time for collaborative action," he said.
"It will take a concerted effort from everyone to implement it, but some of them are quite small and achievable changes."
Mr Mews said if Canberra really wanted to be the leader in this area, "we have to take it seriously".
"The Canberra community was quite creative in coming up with tangible great things. Let's be realistic, put the money where our mouth is and work together on effective implementation," he said.
