當孩子放學後，你會讓他／她到補習班學習下一年的數學？還是到球場打球出一身汗呢？哪一樣對小朋友的學習成績有更長遠的幫助？以下的學術研究報告可能給你一個不同的看法：
根據 British Journal of Sports Medicine 的報告指出，蘇格蘭兩間大學研究發現，體育運動有助促進智力和學習能力－－青少年每天做「中度至激烈」運動，其學習表現能相應提升，對女孩子學習科學尤見效益。
這項名為《運動與考試成績關係》的研究，追蹤調查了五千名11歲學童，用儀器測量他們三至七天期間的運動量，並參考他們所服用的魚油量、體重、家庭及社會經濟環境等因素，再分析學生在英文、數學和科學三科的考試表現來做出評核。
研究發現，在孩子們 11、13 和 16 歲時，男生每多做 17 分鐘運動，或女生每多做 12 分鐘運動，所有三科的學習表現都會較佳。
研究人員表示，這個進步效果在女生的科學學習方面尤其顯著，這可能是探究在身體活動對腦部影響下，性別差異的一個大好機會。
研究還發現，目前大多數青少年每天做運動的時間並不足夠，男孩平均29分鐘，女孩更只有18分鐘，遠低於建議的每天60分鐘。
專家認為，當學童的運動量達到建議的程度，他們的學業成績可能會更好，因為研究顯示，當運動量增加 15分鐘，成績平均會增加 2.5分。以此類推，每天做滿60分鐘的運動，學業成績可能升高一個 grade level，由原來的 B 升至 A 級。
策劃這項研究的學者 Dr. Josie Booth 認為，這項研究證實，體育不單單對個人的身體健康十分重要，對家長、政策制定者、從事教育的人也很關鍵的指標。
資料來源：BBC/法新社
Exercise 'boosts academic performance' of teenagers
Intensive exercise improves the academic performance of teenagers, according to new research.
The study, of about 5,000 children, found links between exercise and exam success in English, maths and science.
It found an increase in performance for every extra 17 minutes boys exercised, and 12 minutes for girls.
The study by the universities of Strathclyde and Dundee found physical activity particularly benefited girls' performance at science.
The authors said this could be a chance finding or reflect gender differences in the impact of physical activity on the brain.
Children who carried out regular exercise, not only did better academically at 11 but also at 13 and in their exams at 16, the study suggested.
Most of the teenagers' exercise levels were found to be well below the recommended 60 minutes a day.
The authors speculated what might happen to academic performance if children got the recommended amount.
They claimed that since every 15 minutes of exercise improved performance by an average of about a quarter of a grade, it was possible children who carried out 60 minutes of exercise every day could improve their academic performance by a full grade - for example, from a C to a B, or a B to an A.
However, the authors admitted this was speculation given that very few children did anywhere near this amount of exercise.
Dr Josie Booth, one of the leaders of the study, from Dundee University said: "Physical activity is more than just important for your physical health.
"There are other benefits and that is something that should be especially important to parents, policy-makers and people involved in education."
The authors of the study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, said further research backing the findings could have implications fore public health and education policy.
The study was funded by a grant from the BUPA Foundation to the University of Strathclyde.