Could aerobic fitness link with learning? This research says YES!

Growing evidence suggests that aerobic fitness benefits the brain and cognition during childhood. The present study is the first to explore cortical brain structure of higher fit and lower fit 9- and 10-year-old children, and how aerobic fitness and cortical thickness relate to academic achievement. We demonstrate that higher fit children (>70th percentile VO_2max) showed decreased gray matter thickness in superior frontal cortex, superior temporal areas, and lateral occipital cortex, coupled with better mathematics achievement, compared to lower fit children (<30th percentile VO_2max).

Download the study HERE

Middle school students who eat breakfast at school — even if they have already had breakfast at home — are less likely to be overweight or obese than students who skip breakfast, says a new study by the Community Alliance for Research and Engagement (CARE) at the Yale School of Public Health and the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at the University of Connecticut. Continue reading →

Knowing how hard to exercise is important for both results (intensity is an important factor in exercise “dosage”) as well as for enjoyment.  “No pain, no gain” often makes no sense….

This is not to say that pushing hard is not appropriate…it absolutely is….but like most things, it’s not an either/or. Understanding and maintaining balance ensures the experience is positive AND the best results can be achieved.

The Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) is a valid way of assessing exercise intensity.  However the adult version may not be most appropriate for kids.  The OMNI is a validated tool which allows children to rate their effort on a 0 to 10 scale using pictures. Click HERE to read the full study.

Here is an excellent article that demonstrated the beneficial effects of acute aerobic exercise prior to test-taking (click HERE for full article).

2 Feature Findings:

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