Teenagers who are physically fit do better in exams, new research suggests, and those who are lazy see their performance in the classroom suffer. It has long been known that #physical #fitness in childhood and teenage years is beneficial for both physical and mental well-being throughout life. A growing body of evidence suggests it may also play a key role in brain health and academic performance. In a new study, researchers studied the influence of the different components of physical fitness on academic performance. They looked at the influence of cardiorespiratory capacity, muscular strength, and motor ability. Cardiorespiratory capacity is aerobic fitness - it reflects the heart and lungs capacity to supply the body with fuel and oxygen during exercise. Motor ability refers to skills involving muscle control such as speed, agility and coordination. 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. The study sample included more than 2,000 Spanish children and teenagers, aged from six to 18, with detailed information on physical fitness, body composition, and academic performance. The researchers found cardiorespiratory capacity and motor ability, both independently and combined, were related to academic performance. However, the link between academic performance and physical fitness was stronger for speed, agility and coordination. In contrast, children and teenagers who werent as fit or dextrous had lower grades. Muscular strength was not associated with academic performance. Having high levels of cardio-respiratory and motor fitness may, to some extent, reduce the risk of school failure. As a result, efforts should be made to promote physical activities for children and teenagers in a bid to improve their grades.
Posted on: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 06:20:41 +0000
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