Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2007 Dec;78(5):510-9.
doi: 10.1080/02701367.2007.10599450.

Effects of aerobic exercise on overweight children's cognitive functioning: a randomized controlled trial

Catherine L Davis  1 , Phillip D Tomporowski, Colleen A Boyle, Jennifer L Waller, Patricia H Miller, Jack A Naglieri, Mathew Gregoski
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of aerobic exercise on overweight children's cognitive functioning: a randomized controlled trial

Catherine L Davis et al. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2007 Dec.

Abstract

The study tested the effect of aerobic exercise training on executive function in overweight children. Ninety-four sedentary, overweight but otherwise healthy children (mean age = 9.2 years, body mass index 85th percentile) were randomized to a low-dose (20 min/day exercise), high-dose (40 min/day exercise), or control condition. Exercise sessions met 5 days/week for 15 weeks. The Cognitive Assessment System (CAS), a standardized test of cognitive processes, was administered individually before and following intervention. Analysis of covariance on posttest scores revealed effects on executive function. Group differences emerged for the CAS Planning scale (p = .03). Planning scores for the high-dose group were significantly greater than those of the control group. Exercise may prove to be a simple, yet important, method of enhancing aspects of children's mental functioning that are central to cognitive and social development.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Allegrante JP. Unfit to learn. Education Week. 2004;24(14):38–40.
    1. American College of Sports Medicine . ACSM’s guidelines for exercise testing and prescription. 6th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Baltimore: 2000.
    1. Barkley RA. Linkages between attention and executive functions. In: Lyon GR, Krasnegor NA, editors. Attention, memory, and executive function. Paul H. Brooks Publishing Co.; Baltimore: 1996. pp. 307–325.
    1. Blair C. School readiness. Integrating cognition and emotion in a neurobiological conceptualization of children’s functioning at school entry. American Psychologist. 2002;57(2):111–127. - PubMed
    1. Blair C, Zelazo PD, Greenberg MT. The measurement of executive function in early childhood. Developmental Neuropsychology. 2005;28(2):561–571. - PubMed

Publication types