Fit students do better in school: study

Students with higher aerobic fitness had better grades in reading, writing and math in a study conducted by McMaster University.

“We went into schools and we measured the fitness levels of about 500 children,” says Brian Timmons, an associate professor at the university’s faculty of health science. “Then we took their academic grades right from their report card. We then linked their fitness levels with their academic performance.

Listen“We found that in the lowest fit group, as compared to the highest fit group, the difference in grades was similar to going from a B to a B+,” he says.

There are at least three theories as to why the grades may have improved in the fitter group, says Timmons. Exercise increases blood vessels in the brain, delivering more oxygen to help it function better. The hormone serotonin also increases and studies have found that in animals and humans, exercise increases the number of brain cells.

“Those are the three ways that most people think about the link between being fit and doing well in school,” says Timmons.

Goals often not achieved

Canada is a leader in fitness goals suggesting that children get at least one hour per day of activity that increases the heart rate. While intentions are good, the reality often lags.  “In the province of Ontario, for example, there is a mandated 20 minutes of daily physical activity as part of the curriculum. The implementation of that is terrible,” he says. “Some schools do it. Some schools don’t.”

Some school authorities think if they spend time of activity, there will be less time for math, reading and writing. “The irony of that is that spending the time being active, allowing them to move, is probably going to help them concentrate better, have better attention, and do better on the math, reading and writing.”

Schools could probably improve children’s academic performance by making sure they are active for some of the time, says Timmons. And parents can help by having them walk to school, taking them to the park, or sending them outside to play.