A new Finnish research study found that young boys who are physically active tend to have better academic achievements.
Associations of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior with Academic Skill
Associations of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior with Academic Skill - a follow-up study among primary school children
This research project, a collaboration between the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) Study at the University of Eastern Finland and the First Steps Study at the University of Jyväskylä, examined 186 children in the first grade. The researchers recorded the children’s physical activity levels, sedentary behaviors, reading skills and arithmetic knowledge.
In the study, boys who reported higher levels of physical activity during recess had better reading skills than less active boys. Boys who walked and cycled more also had better reading skills; and boys who participated in organized sports had higher scores on math tests. Interestingly, the researchers found very little association between physical activity and academic achievement among girls.