Exercise positively affects intelligence and cognitive flexibility among school-aged children who are overweight or with obesity, according to a US study.

Dr Francisco Ortega (PhD) from University of Granada in Spain, and colleagues assessed whether an exercise intervention of aerobic plus resistance training improved cognitive and brain health outcomes for children with overweight or obesity. 

The analysis included 109 children (aged 8-11) with a mean BMI of 26.8, who were randomly assigned to a 20-week trial of intervention or usual routines.

The researchers found that the exercise intervention improved crystallised intelligence as well as total intelligence versus the control group.