Academic excellence correlating with physical fitness? Really? That’s what this study says about performance on the annual Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills tests given each year.

• Higher levels of fitness are associated with better academic performance (about 80 percent of students have healthy levels of cardiovascular fitness at schools rated "exemplary" by the state; by comparison, just over 40 percent of students at schools rated "academically unacceptable" achieved cardiovascular fitness).

• Counties with high levels of cardiovascular fitness tended to have passing rates on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.

• Higher levels of fitness were associated with better school attendance.

• Higher levels of fitness were also associated with fewer disciplinary incidents involving drugs, alcohol, violence and truancy.

Where do I see a potential problem with this information? I wonder how it correlates with socio-economic status for one. It could well be that what we see is the relationship between better diet and access to health clubs due to higher wealth and test performance. I think there is a lot more to be looked at here before reaching a conclusion.