Medical Daily – Lecia Bushak
“By now, researchers have pretty much solidified the notion that exercise is good for physical and mental health. One recent study, for example, found that running preserves a protein in the brain that protects cognitive function and improves memory. But in light of the childhood obesity epidemic, how can we encourage children to exercise more? In a new report, 24 researchers from eight different countries gathered to create a consensus on the impact of physical activity on kids’ health. They focused primarily on studies that examined the health of children aged 6 to 18, and analyzed the effects of exercise on children’s fitness, health, cognitive function, motivation, and mental and social health. The report defines physical activity as “an overarching term that consists of many structured and unstructured forms within school and out-of-school-time contexts, including organized sports, physical education, outdoor recreation, motor skill development programs, recess, and active transportation such as biking and walking.'”(more)