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Scientific studies have repeatedly confirmed the positive effect of physical activity on mental abilities of man:. Concentration, memory, etc. The question is, what is more useful load: prolonged aerobic exercise (running, cycling) or weight training (dumbbells, barbell, fitness equipment). This question remains open.

IT professionals often prefer not to aerobic and power loads. This is logical: after all, this exercise not only burns excess fat and improves metabolism, but gives a good aesthetic and social effects. The body becomes a nice beautiful shape, which is like the friends, colleagues, and the opposite sex. This is a bonus to health, career and general quality of life.

Body Beauty and success in life

Dozens of scientific papers from the 1970s to the 1990s confirm a persistent manifestation of people stereotype "well what is beautiful." As a result, physical attractiveness is associated with good, positive traits, and unattractive - with negative traits. For example, people with an attractive appearance is better perceived in society. External appeal has the strongest impact when evaluating a person in general. Studies show that on average, men with attractive appearance more friends, they are more socialized, they are much more active sex life.

To confirm the latter thesis - in the table shows the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient for the number of sexual partners, and physical attractiveness of the body and the man's face. It can be seen that the beauty of the body is more important than the beauty of a person.

The coefficients of Spearman rank correlation to the number of sexual partners, age at first sex among heterosexual men, and physical attractiveness (face and body). Data: "Physical Attractiveness of Face and Body as Indicators of Physical Fitness in Men", Evolution and Human Behavior, 28 (2): 106-111, March 2007

Note b: for the five virgins taken into account their actual age at the time of the study

The average performance of the entire sample (77 men). Data: "Physical Attractiveness of Face and Body as Indicators of Physical Fitness in Men", Evolution and Human Behavior, 28 (2): 106-111, March 2007

Earlier studies have shown that beautiful staff is easier to get a promotion and get a higher salary. Other things being equal (intelligence, experience, etc.) boss chooses to raise more beautiful. Pleasant appearance makes speeches in public, gives self-confidence, help at business negotiations and generally strengthens the position of a person in any social contact.

One might say that in this case there is discrimination based on appearance - the so-called Lookism. Perhaps this must be fought at the national level, helping ugly people. For example, setting a minimum quota for them in the state companies, as is done for other objects of discrimination.

Discrimination based on appearance - a topic for another conversation. The fact that it exists, and is very strong. According to scientists, the choice of a physically attractive partners is the evolutionary nature. In ancient times, some aspects of physical fitness have been important for survival: it's motor skills (leg length), cardiorespiratory performance (broad chest), physical strength (muscle volume), endurance and others. The ancient women was very important high capacity for nurturing the fetus, childbirth and breastfeeding cub (wide hips, high-quality mammary glands).

If you start weight training, you will notice after a few months, as the attitude of others will change for you in a favorable way. Especially in summer. This is the manifestation of everyday discrimination and widespread stereotypes with the evolutionary nature.

Physical strength and mental ability

Physical strength gives a great bonus for a career and health. But for IT workers it is more important than the fact that she is also a positive effect on mental abilities. Of course, barbells and dumbbells are not objectively enhance your IQ (only subjectively enhance it in the eyes of others), but it will help to significantly extend the active intellectual life.

Researchers from the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney (Australia) conducted a study in the program Study of Mental and Resistance Training (SMART) in people over 55 years old, who appeared weak first symptoms of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Note that these symptoms can manifest itself not only in the elderly, but also young - under the influence of various forms of addictive behavior, ie obsessive need for certain activities. This addiction causes a disturbance of mental function.

So, as part of an experiment in the University of Sydney for the first time it recorded a clear link between muscle adaptation to the increasing power loads and functioning of the brain. In other words, taking part in the experiment cognitive functions clearly correlated with muscle strength.

Participants were divided into four groups:

1. Strength training + computer training mental abilities.
2. Strength training + placebo computer training mental abilities (view video of nature).
3. Computer training mental abilities + placebo strength exercise (gymnastics).
4. Placebo strength training plus placebo computer training mental abilities.

Strength training included a session with the rise of weights twice a week for six months. Weight chosen to exercise 80% of the peak and increases with physical force.

Cognitive tests on the results of the experiment have shown that mental activity is qualitatively improved in the first experimental group.

Further research will help to choose the most effective type and intensity of loads, which are recommended for older people to increase muscle strength and therefore intelligence. The scientists also want to find a reason that causes the improvement of mental abilities in humans after prolonged exercise. This will help develop the most optimal program.

The scientific results were published Oct. 24, 2016 in the journal Journal of American Geriatrics (doi: 10.1111 / jgs.14542).