Fitness

Vivek Ramaswamy Makes Unfounded Claims About SAT Scores, Physical Fitness

Published

2 years ago

September 3, 2023

Vivek Ramaswamy Makes Unfounded Claims About SAT Scores, Physical Fitness

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy claimed on X (formerly known as Twitter) that … [+] “It’s a fact that those who perform well on math & reading tests tend to perform more poorly on the 1-mile run, and vice versa.” This ran counter to what actual scientific evidence says. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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Here’s one test question that Vivek Ramaswamy may fail to answer correctly: what is the relationship between physical fitness and academic performance? Ramaswamy, who is campaigning to become the Republican Party nominee for the 2024 United States Presidential Election, made a statement on Twitter (now called X) that deserves a big “X” through it. He claimed that “It’s a fact that those who perform well on math & reading tests tend to perform more poorly on the 1-mile run, and vice versa.”

Umm, before you say that something is a fact, perhaps it would be good idea to actually look up the evidence and the facts. In fact, multiple studies have shown the exact opposite of what Ramaswamy was insisting as fact—namely, better physical fitness is in actuality associated with better academic performance.

Ramaswamy made that X-misses-the-spot statement as part of a tweet (or maybe an X) that said, “Now that the Supreme Court finally ended affirmative action, colleges will only further deprioritize SAT scores in favor of subjective factors because of large racial disparities in test results.” This, of course, is an assumption of his. Regardless, Ramaswamy continued with, “There’s a simple way forward that will drive excellence and diversity of talent among incoming college classes: the College Board should add a physical fitness section to the SAT, instead of just math and reading sections,” as you can see here:

From Twitter

Yeah, whenever someone says, “There’s a simple way” about a significant problem that hasn’t been solved yet, be skeptical. Be very skeptical. There are numerous issues with Ramaswamy’s proposed “simple” solution. First of all, the Presidential Fitness Test wasn’t meant to be a standardized aptitude test for college admissions. Instead, it was designed to help everyone reach and maintain a certain fitness level. What are college admissions committees supposed to do with such results? Should they say, “Oh, Amanda did 20 sit-ups more than Jenny and Scott. Let’s admit her instead?”

Secondly, how the heck is the College Board going to administer a fitness test in a way that is fair, unbiased, and resistant to cheating? There are currently around 3.8 million teens eligible to take the standardized tests like the SAT and ACT each year. If the number of sit-ups is going to make the difference between getting into different colleges, can you imagine the arguments that may occur over whether junior did an actual full sit up or not?

Thirdly, sports participation does already factor into college admissions. Exceptional athletes already can move to the front of the line in college admissions and get full-ride scholarships. And a full-scholarship Division I basketball player probably can do a lot of sit-ups.

Fourthly, if the goal is to even the playing field when it comes to college admissions, is Ramaswamy making a major assumption about those who are disadvantaged for economic and discrimination reasons? Is he assuming that these folks will naturally be able to perform better on physical fitness tests? If so, where the heck is he getting that assumption? This would run counter to what a 2011 publication in the journal Diabetes indicated about the U.S.: “Overall, the poorest counties have the greatest sedentariness and obesity. Several reasons may explain why people living in poor counties are less active.” These reasons include parks and sports facilities being less available and gym membership, sports clothing, and exercise equipment being less affordable.

Finally, let’s pull-up a systematic review published on August 25, 2023, in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. For this review, the authors searched the PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, and PsycINFO databases to find studies that assessed the effects of acute physical activity on academic performance-related outcomes in school-aged youth. This resulted in 11 published studies that encompassed a total of 803 children and adolescents, ranging in age from six to 16 years. These studies showed significant correlations between acute physical activity and not only better academic outcomes overall but also better academic performance in mathematics, and better academic performance in language. Other studies have shown links between longer-term physical fitness and academic performance including standardized test scores such as one published in Acta Paediatrics.

All of this is not surprising since the mind and body are closely linked. (If yours are somehow separated, you should see a doctor immediately.) Physical activity can improve brain function by increasing the flow of oxygen-carrying blood to your noggin and increasing the release of brain neurotransmitters and other naturally occurring chemicals in your brain that can help you better concentrate, process, learn, and remember things. By contrast, feeling unfit or unwell can distract from your learning. Moreover, participating in sports can help with your problem-solving skills and even help teach you reading and math-related skills. For example, hitting the right tennis serve, kicking an on-the-mark penalty shot, and pitching the perfect ball all involve some combination of geometry and physics, right? Additionally, being physically fit and participating in sports can make you feel better about yourself and improve your overall mood, which in turn can further help your academic performance.

So, before any politician or anyone else for that matter runs at the mouth about one-mile runs, it’s better for that person to check what the actual scientific evidence says first. Claiming that students who perform well on math and reading tests won’t do so on athletic tests and vice-versa, simply furthers the “nerds” versus “jocks” trope that just ain’t accurate. In reality, there are plenty of jocks who are nerds and vice-versa. If you really want to level the playing field when it comes to social, racial, and economic disparities in educational opportunities, you have to sit up and tackle the root causes. And not run off in some tangent.

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Fitness

Should you drink espresso before exercise? What a doctor says

Published

1 hour ago

October 26, 2025

Press Room

Should you drink espresso before exercise? What a doctor says

We all need a little boost of energy to get us amped up to crush our workouts, but can espresso serve as a pre-workout drink? As a regular coffee drinker with a pretty high tolerance, I find myself brewing espresso shots before heading to the gym at least a few times of week (especially for those late-afternoon workouts where the 3 p.m. slump hits hard). At about 64 milligrams of caffeine per shot of espresso, espresso has enough caffeine to provide a bit of a pick-me-up before exercising.

Should you drink espresso before exercise? Below, Dr. Gail Clifford, M.D., a physician for over 30 years, shares her thoughts on drinking espresso before working out.

What happens when you drink espresso before a workout

“Drinking espresso before a workout can give you a quick boost of caffeine that can increase your alertness and energy levels and can help you feel more ready for your workout,” says Dr. Clifford. Overall, the caffeine in espresso can make your workouts feel easier and more energized, especially if you’re exercising early in the day, as caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and raises your adrenaline levels to promote the release of fatty acids for fuel.

“Caffeine also increases heart rate and blood flow to help increase the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to working muscles,” she says. Many use caffeine in espresso to help sharpen focus during workouts, too, making it easier to continue endurance exercises for longer with less perceived strain.

“Drinking espresso before a workout can also increase calorie burn since caffeine can boost fat oxidation and metabolic rate. This means that espresso can help your body burn slightly more fat and calories during activity,” she says. “While the effect is mild when used once or every so often, it can add up when used frequently during training.”

How and when to drink espresso before a workout

If you’d like to use espresso as a pre-workout boost, Dr. Clifford says timing is key. “Caffeine from espresso starts working within about 15 to 30 minutes after drinking and peaks around 45 to 60 minutes. Its effects can last anywhere from 3 to 5 hours, depending on your metabolism, if you’ve eaten, and how hydrated you are.”

For most people, she recommends consuming one to two shots of espresso about 3o to 60 minutes before starting a workout session (around 60 to 120 mg of caffeine).

At the same time, she cautions espresso drinkers to be mindful of the potential downsides of having too much caffeine, such as jitters, anxiety, increased heart rate, or restlessness — which ultimately can impact your workout negatively. Those who are sensitive to stimulants or who work out on an empty stomach should be mindful of having too much caffeine before exercise. Staying hydrated and moderating how much caffeine you have can help reduce unwanted effects.

“In excess, caffeine can negatively affect hydration and recovery following your workout since too much caffeine can have a mild diuretic effect,” she warns.

Should you drink espresso before exercise?

Overall, Dr. Clifford says espresso can be a good pre-workout drink, since it provides fast, natural, and low-calorie energy that can boost performance and motivation without added sugars or synthetic ingredients:

“When compared to traditional pre-workout supplements, espresso offers similar stimulant benefits such as focus, alertness, and endurance, but is natural and does not contain any artificial additives or high doses of stimulants that can cause crashes or side effects. When timed and dosed properly, using espresso as a pre-workout drink can help improve performance and focus.”

Fitness

Best Expert-Tested Workout Apps and Services for 2025

Published

21 hours ago

October 25, 2025

Press Room

Best Expert-Tested Workout Apps and Services for 2025

Finding your favorite workout app may require a bit of trial and error since you’ll want to see if you’re looking for a personalized experience or are comfortable with a cookie cutter plan.

Where will you be using the app? Think about where you’ll mainly be using the app. Do you work out at home, at the gym, outside or a mix of all three? If you like to run outdoors, for example, you’d likely want an app that offers location tracking. Similarly, when looking into a specific app, figure out whether its classes require you to have certain equipment on-hand, like dumbbells or a yoga mat.

Your goals: You should also think about your goals for using the app. Do you just want to get moving more often, or are there specific fitness goals (like running a certain speed or lifting a certain weight) that you want to achieve? Some apps allow you to personalize your goals or even connect with a personal trainer to help you meet them.

Budget: Lastly, know that there are workout apps for every budget — including free. Some require a monthly subscription to access, so take advantage of the free trials to determine if it’s worth the cost to you.

Fitness

Daxko Acquires Exercise.com, Expanding Its Boutique Fitness Tech

Published

3 days ago

October 24, 2025

Press Room

Daxko Acquires Exercise.com, Expanding Its Boutique Fitness Tech

The deal comes amid a year of consolidation across the fitness software and payments space

Daxko, a software and payments provider, has added another piece to its growing fitness tech portfolio with the acquisition of Exercise.com, a gym management software company that focuses on boutique fitness studios.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The acquisition builds on Daxko’s recent expansion streak. In September, the company acquired Vision, a longtime software partner of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, extending its footprint to nearly 30% of Clubs nationwide. The deal was designed to reduce administrative burdens for club leaders while expanding access to Daxko’s member management and engagement tools. That move followed Daxko’s purchase of ARC, a platform supporting Jewish Community Centers.

“This acquisition reinforces our commitment to serving fitness businesses of every size and model, from independent studios to multi-location clubs,” Daxko CEO Jeff VanDixhorn said. “Exercise.com’s proven platform and team align perfectly with our strategy to help fitness organizations thrive while improving the lives of the people and communities they serve.”

Exercise.com will continue operating under its existing platform and team, with Daxko’s backing expected to speed innovation and scale. The companies said the goal is to more tightly link coaching, operations and payments in one data-driven system designed to help fitness businesses grow.