Physical activity showed a small effect on children's thinking skills
Randomized-trial evidence favored physical activity for executive function in children and adolescents. Differences among activities were reported, but the abstract does not provide usable amounts or direct comparisons.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Physical activity showed a small positive pooled effect on executive function, meaning mental skills used to manage thinking and actions. Reported effects were more pronounced in children than adolescents and differed across the skills tested. Aerobic and coordination activities had favorable estimates, but the abstract does not establish a practical activity amount or provide enough detail to judge comparative superiority.
The abstract omits participant totals, trial control conditions, intervention lengths, and the activity amounts underlying its dose-response model. More data were needed to clarify results for interval training and activities that engage thinking.
What the outcome covers
The measured outcome was executive function rather than a general measure of intelligence or school performance. The review reported variation across components of executive function, so its pooled finding should not be read as an identical improvement in every thinking skill.
An amount pattern needs detail
The authors described a modeled pattern in which effects rose and then fell as activity amount increased. Without the underlying amounts or uncertainty around that pattern, the abstract cannot support choosing a specific schedule, intensity, or supposedly optimal activity dose.
The original publication
Effects of physical activity on executive function in children and adolescents: A Bayesian dose-response network meta-analysis.
Li J, Huang Z, Feng X et al.
Complement Ther Clin Pract · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40706279
- Record checked
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