Physically fit elementary- and middle-school students perform better
academically than their out-of-shape classmates, according to a study
carried out in the New York City school system.
The report found that students who placed in the top third of the
school system's fitness scale had higher math and reading scores on
average than students in the bottom third. In particular, the kids who
rated among the top 5% for fitness – on measures that included strength
and aerobic capacity – scored an average of 36 percentage points higher
on state reading and math tests in 2007-08 than did the least-fit 5%.
According to NYC Department of Health data, the percentage of obese
kids edged downward through 2008, from 24% to 21%, while the percentage
of overweight kids declined even less – from 19% to 18%.
Those figures put the city 4 percentage points above the national average in both categories.
