A Big Problem? The Role of Childhood Obesity and Math Performance

A child’s acquisition of math skills may be related to health factors, a new study by Sara Gable, Jennifer L. Krull, and Yiting Chang.  The study followed thousands of K-5 students and found a relationship between poor mathematical performance and childhood obesity. Consistently lower mathematical performance in obese students was noted. However, the reason for this correlation remains unknown. Does childhood obesity lower cognitive skills? Or are obesity and low math performance symptomatic of another condition, such as poverty, parental involvement, or emotional health?

This echoes previous studies that have linked mental ability and physical health. A 2009 study in The Journal of School Health found that as levels of passing scores on physical fitness test rose, so did scores on standardized exams in math and English.

These studies seem to imply that the health of the body is linked to the acuity of the mind. What do you think? Have you found that you can "think clearer" after moderate exercise? It is tempting to link these findings back to earlier Math Hub discussions about student coping strategies around math anxiety and turning math fear into mastery. Do these studies support a holistic approach to childhood education? Or maybe there is no causation; maybe obesity and poor math skills are both symptoms of a larger problem. What are your thoughts?