edited by katie barnes. email: katiebarnes@leisuremedia.com
research round-up
child’s play
New research shows why ensuring that children exercise can help
improve their performance in the classroom as well as on the fi eld
W
ith a rising number of
inactive, obese children
in the UK, there’s an
obvious argument for
upping physical activity levels in the
younger generation – be it at school or
in local fitness facilities. Yet PE lessons
are the first to get pushed aside if more
focus is needed on priority subjects.
It should be noted, though, that
children who are fi t perform much
better academically, according to fi ndings
of a study from Harvard Medical School,
published in the Journal of School Health.
T HUNT
Although studies had already shown a
signifi cant positive relationship between
PE time and class grades, few had “used
standardised fi tness measures and
OCK.COM/REOBER
standardised test scores in large urban
.IST
populations”, according to this report.
This study was based on 1,841 students

WWW
from the Cambridge Public Schools – an
urban school district in Massachusetts, PICTURE:
US. The average age of pupils assessed Children who are fitter than their peers often perform better academically
was 11.73 years, and almost 40 per cent
were overweight or at risk of being the results improved by 38 per cent for each unit
overweight (see information box below). The researchers found that the children increase in the number of fi tness tests
To assess fi tness levels, the students who were the fittest – although not passed. When it came to English, the
took part in fi ve physical activity tests always outstanding athletes – scored students’ chances of passing the exam
(see box below). Academic achievement higher in the maths and English exams. rose by 24 per cent for each unit increase
was measured as a passing score on The most signifi cant improvement was in the number of fi tness tests passed.
standard exams in maths and English. in maths: the odds of passing this exam A possible explanation for these
results could be that physical activity
stimulates neural development, while
putting children through their paces another belief is that it’s related to
higher levels of self-esteem and lower
S
tudents completed fi ve fi tness the pass criteria and an ‘outstanding’ levels of anxiety and stress – each
tests adapted from those of the score given to those exceeding the of which has been linked to better
Amateur Athletic Union and the pass criteria. For each fi tness test, only academic performance. Other reviews
Fitnessgram from the Cooper Institute. attainment and outstanding scoring suggest that attention levels are likely
These tests consisted of an students received a ‘pass’ mark. to be greater in an active, rather than
endurance cardiovascular test, an The weight of students was sedentary, students.
abdominal strength test, a fl exibility assessed by body mass index (BMI) However, the researchers of this study
test, an upper-body strength test scores based on height and weight say that there is no full explanation of
and an agility test. A student got a measurements. A BMI of 85 to 95 the relationship between active children
‘participant’ score if they took the test was considered ‘at risk of being and brighter students, and suggest future
but did not pass it. An ‘attainment’ overweight’, while 95 and over was studies should have a randomised design
score was awarded to those who met deemed ‘overweight’. and look at the longitudinal effect for
fi tness on academic achievement.
38 Read Health Club Management online may 2009 © cybertrek 2009
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital
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