Fat and stupid children vs fit and smart children

If you're a parent, or plan to become one, the following should be memorized:

An extensive review of relevant research has demonstrated that the more physically active schoolchildren are, the better they do academically. 

More from the health site, Mercola.com:

"Physical activity and sports are generally promoted for their positive effect on children's physical health; regular participation in physical activity in childhood is associated with a decreased cardiovascular risk in youth and adulthood.

There is also a growing body of literature suggesting that physical activity has beneficial effects on several mental health outcomes, including health-related quality of life and better mood states.

In addition... there is a strong belief that regular participation in physical activity is linked to enhancement of brain function and cognition, thereby positively influencing academic performance.

There are several hypothesized mechanisms for why exercise is beneficial for cognition, including:

(1)  Increased blood and oxygen flow to the brain

(2)  Increased levels of norepinephrine and endorphins resulting in a reduction of stress and an improvement of mood

(3)  Increased growth factors that help to create new nerve cells and support synaptic plasticity