If they're sweaty, they're probably smart.
Students who participate in regular, vigorous exercise get better grades, according to a study by researchers at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan. The report was presented at American College of Sports Medicine's annual meeting on June 3.
The study of 266 undergraduate students found that those who exercised more than 20 minutes a day had on average a GPA 0.4 points higher than students who did not. Even after accounting for race, gender, study time, major and participation in school athletics, vigorous activity was still associated with a higher GPA.
Dr. Keith Naugle, clinical assistant professor for the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology at UF, said that regular physical activity maintains a healthy individual, which helps balance the mental, social and spiritual aspects of life.
"Exercise releases endorphins, which help people feel better, " Naugle said. "It allows a person to focus more on class or work, and
it's a stress reliever."
Some UF students, like Savanna Turner, like to crank out a full day of schoolwork and exercise.
"I definitely take entire days to both work out and study," Turner said.
"Exercising helps relieve a lot of tension. After that, study time is my zone-out time," she said.
Students like Turner bolster the results of the study by demonstrating the relationship between exercise and school.
However, Naugle suggests it might be the type of high-achieving student with the ethic to exercise that also commits to school.
"These students know how to balance their time," he said. "Hence success in class can equate to success in the gym."
