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Cited by 911Physical Activity and HealthObesity, Physical Activity, DietChildren's Physical and Motor Development

Exercise improves executive function and achievement and alters brain activation in overweight children: A randomized, controlled trial.

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Davis, Catherine L., Tomporowski, Phillip D., McDowell, Jennifer E., Austin, Benjamin P., Miller, Patricia H., Yanasak, Nathan E., Allison, Jerry D., Naglieri, Jack A.·2011·Health Psychology
DOI 10.1037/a0021766PMC PMC3057917
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This experiment tested the hypothesis that exercise would improve executive function. DESIGN: Sedentary, overweight 7- to 11-year-old children (N = 171, 56% girls, 61% Black, M ± SD age = 9.3 ± 1.0 years, body mass index [BMI] = 26 ± 4.6 kg/m², BMI z-score = 2.1 ± 0.4) were randomized to 13 ± 1.6 weeks of an exercise program (20 or 40 min/day), or a control condition. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Blinded, standardized psychological evaluations (Cognitive Assessment System and Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement III) assessed cognition and academic achievement. Functional MRI measured brain activity during executive function tasks. RESULTS: Intent to treat analysis revealed dose-response benefits of exercise on executive function and mathematics achievement. Preliminary evidence of increased bilateral prefrontal cortex activity and reduced bilateral posterior parietal cortex activity attributable to exercise was also observed. CONCLUSION: Consistent with results obtained in older adults, a specific improvement on executive function and brain activation changes attributable to exercise were observed. The cognitive and achievement results add evidence of dose-response and extend experimental evidence into childhood. This study provides information on an educational outcome. Besides its importance for maintaining weight and reducing health risks during a childhood obesity epidemic, physical activity may prove to be a simple, important method of enhancing aspects of children's mental functioning that are central to cognitive development. This information may persuade educators to implement vigorous physical activity.

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Authors
Davis, C. L., Tomporowski, P. D., McDowell, J. E., Austin, B. P., Miller, P. H., Yanasak, N. E., Allison, J. D., & Naglieri, J. A.
Affiliations
  • Augusta University (US)
  • University of Georgia (US)
  • George Mason University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Health Psychology
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2011
Volume
30
Issue
1
Pages
91-98
ISSN
  • 0278-6133 (ISSN-L)
  • 1930-7810
DOI
10.1037/a0021766
PMC
PMC3057917
OpenAlex
W2118921112
Cited by
911
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 25 · 2025: 49 · 2024: 55 · 2023: 60 · 2022: 66 · 2021: 70 · 2020: 63 · 2019: 70 · 2018: 64 · 2017: 70 · 2016: 69 · 2015: 73 · 2014: 68 · 2013: 48 · 2012: 41
FWCI
38.18
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Health Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (DK60692 ; DK70922)
  • University of Georgia
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Children's Physical and Motor Development
Keywords
physical activity, executive function, overweight children, childhood obesity, academic performance, mathematics achievement, prefrontal cortex, posterior parietal cortex, brain activation, dose-response relationship, cognitive development, sedentary children
MeSH terms
Brain, Child, Cognition, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Exercise, Overweight, Executive Function

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