Physical Fitness Could Drastically Improve Academic Performance in Children

We all knew that working out could improve our bodies, but did you also know that it could improve our minds? Scientists have found that physical fitness in childhood and adolescence is beneficial for both physical and mental health throughout life, and that it could also play a key role in brain health and academic performance.

Researchers have known in the past that physical fitness may have cognitive benefits. Cardiorespiratory capacity, muscular strength and motor ability are components of physical fitness that have documented potential to improve health, each of which may have different effects on the brain.

In order to see what sort of effects these might be, the scientists examined 2,038 Spanish children and adolescents between the ages of 6 to 18. The researchers looked at data on physical fitness, body composition, and academic performance.

So what did they find? It turns out that cardiorespiratory capacity and motor ability, both independently and combined, were related to academic performance. In addition, the link between academic performance and physical fitness was even stronger for motor ability. This means that motor ability may be important for academic performance. In contrast, children and adolescents who were less fit had lower grades.

"Because these physical fitness components are highly associated with each other, it is important to differentiate which physical fitness components are important in relation to academic performance," said Irene Esteban-Cornejo, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Having high levels of cardiorespiratory and motor fitness may, to some extent, reduce the risk of school failure."

The findings reveal the importance of exercise for children. Efforts should be made to promote physical activities that involve aerobic exercises and motor tasks to enhance cardiorespiratory capacity and motor ability. By staying fit, children can improve academic performance and live healthier lives far into the future.

The findings are published in the Journal of Pediatrics.