Sweat your way to bigger brawn? Or brains? While you might think it is only the former, recent studies have shown that exercise does, in fact, help you grow smarter.
A study at
Now, if you think that only the elderly need to exercise, then you’re wrong.
Neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin are built up as you exercise and these reduce depression, lift moods, and in general help you focus better. They are needed not only by adults, but also help reduce problems with attention-deficit disorder in the youth, leading to efficient learning, which in turn leads to ‘smart kids’.
But why then does society generalize intellectual individuals under the category of ‘unfit’?
The American Heritage Dictionary classifies a nerd as:
1. A foolish, inept or unattractive person.
2. A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept.
A ‘nerd’, the name given to brainier students in school, is often portrayed by society as physically unfit, being either obese or extremely thin.
Conversely, a ‘jock’ (as popularized by American society), or a person who actively pursues athletic hobbies and is generally seen as ‘more brawn than brains’. The societal perception of ‘nerds’ and ‘jocks’ is not supported by the recent research. So why then do the stereotypes contradict the research?
It is all about noticeable examples. Societal stereotypes are based on and amplified upon when someone who is the epitome of, for example, a nerd, is unfit. In the past few years as a teenager, I have seen many a ‘nerd’ conforming to the societal archetype.
Take Person A. In Secondary 1, he was recognized as an intelligent pupil, and was a computer whiz. He was already slightly obese then. But perhaps because his classmates wanted to find flaws in A, they exploited his one ‘weakness’. His obesity. Through the years as he sunk in depression and gave up all hope of being fit by stuffing himself with food and not even trying to do basic exercises, he strengthened others’ perceptions of ‘nerds’. He had failed without even trying.
But you need not conform to societal expectations. Look at Person B. In Secondary One he was thin and unfit. But he, unlike Person A, managed to gain his muscles. He takes Advanced classes, and is consistently the top few pupils in the level. And he is also fit.
Does that fact that ‘jocks’ excel in sports mean that their lot is cast – that they are doomed to academic failure? I say no. These individuals have the drive to succeed in sports, and it stands to reason that they can also channel this passion into their studies. Should they opt to. It is only a matter of choice.
Nerds need not be unfit, jocks need not be stupid. Exercise is also beneficial to brain power, and ‘stupid jocks’ should not let themselves down by being ‘stupid’. You can be labeled intelligent and muscular simultaneously. So guys – rework your mindsets.