WWC review of this study

Exercise improves executive function and achievement and alters brain activation in overweight children: A randomized, controlled trial.

Davis, C. L., Tomporowski, P. D., McDowell, J. E., Austin, B. P., Miller, P. H., Yanasak, N. E., Allison, J. D., & Naglieri, J. A. (2011). Health Psychology, 30(1), 91–98.

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
     examining 
    116
     Students
    , grades
    1-6

Reviewed: March 2012

No statistically significant positive
findings
Meets WWC standards without reservations
Cognition outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Successive

Exercise Program vs. Business as usual

Adjusted Posttest

High dose;
116 students

104.00

101.00

No

--

Planning (executive function)

Exercise Program vs. Business as usual

Adjusted Posttest

High dose;
116 students

105.00

102.00

No

--

Simultaneous

Exercise Program vs. Business as usual

Adjusted Posttest

Low-dose;
115 students

107.00

105.00

No

--

Successive

Exercise Program vs. Business as usual

Adjusted posttest

Low-dose;
115 students

103.00

101.00

No

--

Planning (executive function)

Exercise Program vs. Business as usual

Adjusted Posttest

Low-dose;
115 students

103.00

102.00

No

--

Simultaneous

Exercise Program vs. Business as usual

Adjusted Posttest

High dose;
116 students

106.00

105.00

No

--

Attention

Exercise Program vs. Business as usual

Adjusted Posttest

High dose;
116 students

104.00

104.00

No

--

Attention

Exercise Program vs. Business as usual

Adjusted Posttest

Low-dose;
115 students

104.00

104.00

No

--
General Mathematics Achievement outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Broad math

Exercise Program vs. Business as usual

Adjusted Posttest

High dose;
96 students

107.00

104.00

No

--

Broad math

Exercise Program vs. Business as usual

Adjusted Posttest

Low-dose;
96 students

105.00

104.00

No

--
Reading achievement outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Broad reading

Exercise Program vs. Business as usual

Adjusted Posttest

Low-dose;
96 students

101.00

100.00

No

--

Broad reading

Exercise Program vs. Business as usual

Adjusted posttest

High dose;
96 students

100.00

100.00

No

--


Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.

Characteristics of study sample as reported by study author.


  • Female: 56%
    Male: 44%
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    Georgia
  • Race
    Black
    61%
    White
    39%
 

Your export should download shortly as a zip archive.

This download will include data files for study and findings review data and a data dictionary.

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