Physical fitness is a great way to improve academic performance in children, teenagers and adolescents, a new study finds.

A body of research has provided evidence about the benefits of physical fitness for the mind and the body. In a new study, researchers from the University of Madrid looked into how different components of physical fitness can impact the academic performance of children, teenagers and adolescents.

Researchers looked at three main components - cardiorespiratory capacity, muscular strength, and motor ability - which are known to have different impacts on the brain. Over 2,000 children and adolescents, aged between 6 and 18 years were asked to fill in a questionnaire about their physical fitness, body composition, and academic performance.

After analyzing all the data, researchers found that cardiorespiratory capacity and motor ability impacted academic performance, the latter having a stronger impact than the former. Researchers also noted that participants who had lower levels of cardiorespiratory capacity and motor ability also had lower grades. However, muscular strength doesn't affect academic performance at all.

"Because these physical fitness components are highly associated with each other, it is important to differentiate which physical fitness components are important in relation to academic performance," Irene Esteban-Cornejo from the Autonomous University of Madrid said in a press statement. "Having high levels of cardiorespiratory and motor fitness may, to some extent, reduce the risk of school failure. Efforts should be made to promote physical activities for children and adolescents that involve aerobic exercises and motor tasks to enhance cardiorespiratory capacity and motor ability, thereby improving academic development."

This is not the first study that has highlighted a strong link between academic performance and physical fitness. Earlier this year, researchers from the Vrije Universiteit found that children who are physically active are more likely to perform better in school. This is because exercise may help cognition by increasing blood and oxygen flow to the brain, increasing levels of norepinephrine and endorphins, decreasing stress and improving mood and growth factors that help create new nerve cells and support synaptic plasticity.

The current study was published online in the Journal of Pediatrics.