Adrià Muntaner-Mas1, Pere Palou2, Josep Vidal-Conti2, Irene Esteban-Cornejo3. 1. Department of Pedagogy and Specific Didactics, Faculty of Education, University of Balearic Islands, Balearic Islands, Spain; PROFITH "PROmoting FITness and Health through Physical Activity" Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Granada. Granada, Spain. Electronic address: adria.muntaner@uib.es. 2. Department of Pedagogy and Specific Didactics, Faculty of Education, University of Balearic Islands, Balearic Islands, Spain. 3. PROFITH "PROmoting FITness and Health through Physical Activity" Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Granada. Granada, Spain; Center for Cognitive and Brain Health, Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between a battery of obesity indicators and physical fitness components with academic performance in children and to explore the combined and mediation role of the physical fitness components in the relationship between obesity and academic performance in children. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study including data from 250 Spanish schoolchildren (Balearic Islands) between 10 and 12 years of age (mean age, 10.98 ± 0.76 years) was conducted. Obesity measures (body mass index, body fat, waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist-to-height ratio), physical fitness components (cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, and speed-agility), and academic performance (Spanish language, Catalan language, English language, natural sciences, social sciences, arts, physical education, religion, and grade point average [GPA]) were collected. RESULTS: All obesity measures were negatively related to at least 3 of the 10 academic indicators, including GPA (β range, -0.135 to -0.229; all P < .05). Cardiorespiratory fitness and speed-agility were positively related to all academic indicators (β range, 0.182 to 0.350; all P < .046) and muscular fitness with 3 academic indicators (β range, 0.143 to 0.253; all P < .039). Children considered as fit had better academic performance than their unfit peers (score +0.75; P = .001). The association between body mass index and GPA was mediated by cardiorespiratory fitness and speed-agility. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation contributes to the current knowledge by adding evidence about the crucial role of physical fitness in terms of academic performance rather than obesity status, suggesting that physical fitness may ameliorate the negative influence of obesity on academic performance.
OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between a battery of obesity indicators and physical fitness components with academic performance in children and to explore the combined and mediation role of the physical fitness components in the relationship between obesity and academic performance in children. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study including data from 250 Spanish schoolchildren (Balearic Islands) between 10 and 12 years of age (mean age, 10.98 ± 0.76 years) was conducted. Obesity measures (body mass index, body fat, waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist-to-height ratio), physical fitness components (cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, and speed-agility), and academic performance (Spanish language, Catalan language, English language, natural sciences, social sciences, arts, physical education, religion, and grade point average [GPA]) were collected. RESULTS: All obesity measures were negatively related to at least 3 of the 10 academic indicators, including GPA (β range, -0.135 to -0.229; all P < .05). Cardiorespiratory fitness and speed-agility were positively related to all academic indicators (β range, 0.182 to 0.350; all P < .046) and muscular fitness with 3 academic indicators (β range, 0.143 to 0.253; all P < .039). Children considered as fit had better academic performance than their unfit peers (score +0.75; P = .001). The association between body mass index and GPA was mediated by cardiorespiratory fitness and speed-agility. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation contributes to the current knowledge by adding evidence about the crucial role of physical fitness in terms of academic performance rather than obesity status, suggesting that physical fitness may ameliorate the negative influence of obesity on academic performance.
Authors: Xiaofen D Keating; Rulan Shangguan; Kunpeng Xiao; Xue Gao; Connor Sheehan; Liang Wang; Jeff Colburn; Yao Fan; Fei Wu Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-03-18 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Ryan D Burns; Yang Bai; You Fu; Christopher D Pfledderer; Timothy A Brusseau Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-11-26 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Heidi J Syväoja; Anna Kankaanpää; Laura Joensuu; Jouni Kallio; Harto Hakonen; Charles H Hillman; Tuija H Tammelin Journal: Med Sci Sports Exerc Date: 2019-10 Impact factor: 5.411
Authors: Ryan A Williams; Simon B Cooper; Karah J Dring; Lorna Hatch; John G Morris; Caroline Sunderland; Mary E Nevill Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2020-09-14 Impact factor: 3.295