Overweight children could improve their physical and mental health by getting some after-school exercise, according to a new study.

Researchers have found regular exercise may help some children control their anger and, in some cases, improve their cognitive learning skills, Reuters reports.

A total of 208 overweight, sedentary 7 to 11-year-old-students were transported to a research gym and spent approximately 75 minutes working out daily, according to the article.

The children also improved physically with many increasing the time they walked on a treadmill from an average of 485 seconds to 551.

However, researchers told Reuters a number of factors could have led to the decrease in anger, including garnering attention from the program staff and spending less time watching violent shows on television.

For further insight into the effects of physical activity, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute are funding a $3.6 million study, which will last five years.

Losing weight and changing poor eating habits can be hard for a child. There are many natural drugs available to help overweight children get fit without any of the side effects they may experience with prescribed medication.