Birth month affects fitness aptitude, survey shows

Published on 03-02-2010

Summary:

The month in which people are born has an affect on the likelihood of them growing up to be healthy and fit, it has been suggested.

Parents wanting their future children to be sporty and try new activities may like to consider the time of conception, as researchers from Queensland University of Technology's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation have found that a large number of Australian Football League players were born early in the year, Springer reports.

Co-author of the report Dr Adrian Barnett discovered that 33 per cent more sportsmen than expected celebrated birthdays in January, with 25 per cent less in December, findings that corroborate results from previous international studies.

He noted that UK surveys have revealed that those born at the beginning of the academic year perform better at school and are more confident.

"With physical activity being so important, it could also mean smaller children get disheartened and play less sport," Dr Barnett said, stating this could have a knock-on effect later in life.

Meanwhile, scientists at the University of Cambridge recently indicated that running can improve learning, as it generates hundreds of thousands of new brain cells over a few days.