19 November

'Healthy Body, Healthy Mind' - Cafe Science event on 25th November

A University of Dundee researcher, whose study into the links between exercise and educational attainment amongst teenagers has attracted international attention, will discuss her work at the next Cafe Science event.

Dr Josie Booth from the University's School of Psychology will be asking whether keeping active can improve mental ability and exam results when she delivers a talk at Chambers Coffee House & Restaurant, South Tay Street, at 7pm on Monday, 25th November.

The ancient Greeks believed that the development of the mind and body were inextricably linked. In our current time, we are suffering from a worldwide pandemic of physical inactivity and obesity with recent figures suggesting that over 20 per cent of five-year-olds are overweight in Scotland.

The physical benefits of a balanced diet and regular physical activity are commonly reported, however more recent work suggests that there are wide-ranging psychological benefits from adopting a healthy lifestyle, evident at all ages across the lifespan.

Dr Booth was catapulted on to the nation's television screens and newspapers last month after her own study found that regular moderate to vigorous exercise improved teens' academic performance, and particularly seemed to help girls do better in science.

The findings pointed to a dose-response effect in that the more intensive the exercise taken, the greater the impact on test results. If confirmed by further research, this could have implications for public health and education policy.

Dr Booth said, 'The current guidelines suggest that this age group should be doing at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily.

'Our study suggests a relationship between physical activity and academic attainment in young people. This suggests that physical activity is beneficial for more than just physical health and so young people have a further reason to aim to meet the guidelines.

'If moderate to vigorous physical activity does influence academic attainment this has implications for public health and education policy by providing schools and parents with a potentially important stake in meaningful and sustained increases in physical activity. My talk will discuss contemporary research looking at mental ability and physical activity.'

Cafe Science was launched in January 2008, and has attracted 5000 visitors since then. The monthly events are informal discussions led by leading local researchers that allow members of the public the opportunity to learn more about the ground-breaking science at the Universities of Dundee, St Andrews and Abertay, the James Hutton Institute, and Dundee Science Centre.

'Healthy Body, Healthy Mind: Could Keeping Active Improve Mental Ability and Exam Results?' takes place at Chambers, South Tay Street, from 7pm on Monday, 25th November. The event is free and open to all. There is no need to book in advance but an early arrival is recommended.

More information is available at www.cafesciencedundee.co.uk.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277