Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Overweight Children's Cognitive Functioning |
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| Authors: | Catherine L Davis Phillip D Tomporowski Colleen A Boyle Jennifer L Waller Patricia H Miller Jack A Naglieri |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Pediatrics , Medical College of Georgia;2. Department of Kinesiology , University of Georgia;3. Department of Nutrition , Syracuse University;4. Department of Biostatistics , Medical College of Georgia;5. Department of Psychology , University of Georgia;6. Department of Psychology , George Mason University |
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| 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. |
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| Keywords: | Developmental psychology Executive functioning obesity Physical activity |
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