Share

Girls who walk, bike to school do better in tests

Girls, but not boys, who walk or bike to school instead of getting a ride perform better in tests of verbal and maths skills, according to a new study of teens. And the longer the commute, the higher the test scores, regardless of how much exercise girls got outside of school.

Still, it's unclear whether the commute itself matters, or if exercise in general or some other factor is at play, said Dr Francois Trudeau of the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, who was not involved in the study.

"Would basketball in the morning do as much as an active commute?" he wondered.

Kids need daily exercise

Current guidelines suggest that children and teenagers get at least an hour of moderate or vigorous exercise every day - equivalent to a brisk walk or jog, respectively. But less than half of US children, and even fewer teenagers, manage to work this much exercise into their routines.

The teen brain undergoes important changes in structure and function, and many researchers believe physical activity may have a positive effect. It increases blood flow to the brain, for instance, and appears to improve concentration, memory, and other key factors associated with learning.

Earlier this year, a large study of urban teens in Spain suggested those who exercise more outside of school do better on cognitive tests.

Getting to school

To test whether the same might be true for an active commute to school, David Martínez-Gómez of the Spanish National Research Council in Madrid and his colleagues looked at test scores from 1,700 urban Spanish teens, and asked them how they got to school.

Roughly 65% of teens said they either rode a bike or walked to school.

The authors found that girls with an active commute scored an average of 53 points in tests of cognitive function, while those who got a ride scored nearly four points less.

And girls whose active commute lasted longer than 15 minutes did better on the tests than girls who walked or biked for less than 15 minutes on their way to school - a sign the relationship between active commutes and test performance is real, Trudeau said.

The effect persisted

Indeed, the effect persisted even after the researchers accounted for age, body weight, social and economic status, and activities outside school.

It's not clear why there was no link between active commutes and cognitive performance among boys. Another study among Swedish teens found the same thing, the Spanish researchers write in the Archives of Paediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, and it's possible that if boys are more active than girls overall, a bit of extra exercise during their commute wouldn't make much of a difference.

Alternatively, brain differences between girls and boys might cause them to respond differently to exercise, the authors suggest.

Time to reflect

Trudeau added that walking or biking to school often takes longer than a car or bus ride, which may provide time to reflect and mentally prepare for the day, giving them an edge. "It may be a good period to start thinking about the school day."

He cautioned, however, that not all commutes are equal - a walk through European cities, with their cafes and shops, can be much more stimulating than a walk through a typical North American suburb, which could impact the benefits teens get from it. Plus, not every commute is safe, if kids have to navigate dangerous neighbourhoods or busy roads.

"Walking in the streets of Spain may be different than walking in the suburbs of Montreal or Los Angeles," Trudeau noted. (Reuters Health/ November 2010)

Read more:
Pre-teens are weight-obsessed
In your teens? Eat this
Get fitter
Lose weight
 

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE