Exercise Improves Academic Performance: A Brand-New Study

Perhaps we aren’t strength training for the most important reasons.

Middle school, high school, and college athletes typically focus on strength training to improve athletic performance—and rightfully so. Over the past two decades, the training and conditioning of athletes has grown into a massive industry centered around speed, power, and performance.

But what if we’re missing something even more important?

A brand-new randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Political Economy sheds light on an emerging and powerful benefit of exercise: improved academic performance.

The Study

In a simple but well-designed study, researchers randomly assigned 800 college students into one of two groups:

• An exercise group, where students received free access to a fitness facility

• A non-exercise group, with no change in access

This randomized design is critical. While many previous studies have shown a correlation between exercise and academic success, this study aimed to establish something stronger: causation.

What the Researchers Found

The researchers noted:

“While there is correlational evidence and folk expressions such as ‘a healthy mind in a healthy body,’ there is no convincing causal evidence of this effect. We provide the first pre-registered, large-scale randomized controlled trial of the relationship between physical activity and academic performance…”

In other words, this study moves beyond association and provides strong evidence that exercise can directly improve academic outcomes.

Not an Isolated Finding

This isn’t the only evidence pointing in this direction.

A 2024 meta-analysis found that strength training, specifically, improves academic performance in children and adolescents aged 6 to 18. Across multiple studies, the conclusion is consistent: exercise supports better cognitive and academic outcomes.

The Takeaway

Exercise improves academic performance.

For students, parents, and educators, this reframes how we think about physical training. It’s not just about athletics or physical health—it’s about improving how we think, learn, and perform in the classroom.

And for those of us already committed to strength training, it’s a reminder:

We may be getting more than we originally signed up for.