Smart jocks: Fit kids do better on math, reading tests Other studies, he said, show children are becoming healthier in general and he pointed to physical exercise as significant in the treatment of other conditions, such as older Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. “It’s clear that if you work out this morning and then take the math test, you will do better,” said Rauner. Rebecca Hashim, a clinical psychologist at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx, N.Y., who was not involved in the study, said the results were promising. “There is well-established research showing that physical and mental well-being are connected. Some programs to treat depression use physical exercise, she said, and studies with children show that exercise can raise self-esteem, “and if they feel better about themselves, perhaps they will do better academically.” “There is some emerging research that regular physical activity can improve cognition,” Hashim said, noting that the study did not find that weight, or BMI, had any significant effect on test results. “It makes sense, she said. There is no known negative effect of exercise, so if it could improve well-being, why not put resources behind it?” Hashim, who works with obese children in the Bronx, said she encouraged them to move their bodies more. “It’s hard if they are overweight as they avoid it.” She said the findings were positive, but would like to see further studies in different or more racially diverse populations than Lincoln, Nebraska. Dr. Ari Brown, an Austin, Texas, pediatrician and author of books on child development and behavior, agreed that the study needed to be extended to other regions. “But, if additional research confirms these findings, hopefully there will be more value placed on physical activity for kids. “It would also be interesting to know why this is the case ... is the brain needing that ‘work out’ to function better (as is the theory with Alzheimers)? Or maybe kids are...
Posted on: Tue, 03 Dec 2013 19:31:50 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015