Children should get an hour of exercise during each day, a panel of national Obesity experts has concluded, seeking to end confusion on the matter.

‘‘Physical activity is essential for health. This just puts a number on the amount of physical activity children should receive or shoot for,’’ said Dr. William Dietz, director of nutrition and physical activity for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which funded the panel.

The committee was created to cut through conflicting advice on children’s exercise - 27 groups have their own recommendations.

‘‘People get confused about what they should do,’’ Dietz said.

The panel reviewed more than 850 studies on child physical activity and found most recommended 30 to 45 minutes of continuous activity.

But the panel decided 60 minutes of exercise was more appropriate because children typically are active in ‘‘fits and spurts’’ rather than in a continuous manner, said Dr. William Strong, a co-chairman of the panel.