Fitness, physical activity and academic achievement in overweight/obese children. Issue 7 (2nd April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cadenas-Sanchez, Cristina; Migueles, Jairo H.; Esteban-Cornejo, Irene; Mora-Gonzalez, Jose; Henriksson, Pontus; Rodriguez-Ayllon, María; Molina-García, Pablo; Löf, Marie; Labayen, Idoia; Hillman, Charles H.; Catena, Andrés; Ortega, Francisco B.
• Is Part Of: Journal of sports sciences. Volume 38:Issue 7(2020)
• Page Start: 731
• Page End: 740
• Publication Date: 2020-04-02
• Subjects: Aerobic fitness -- academic performance -- light physical activity -- moderate physical activity -- vigorous physical activity -- moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; Sports -- Periodicals; Sports -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sports -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 612.044
• DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2020.1729516
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-0414

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to examine the associations of fitness and physical activity with academic achievement in children with overweight/obesity. A total of 106 (10.0 ± 1.1y, 61 boys) children participated. The fitness components were assessed by field and laboratory-based tests. Physical activity was measured via accelerometry. The academic achievement was assessed by a standardised test and school-grades. Field-based cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with language skills (ß-standardised- ranging from 0.281 to 0.365, p < 0.01). The field-based muscular strength was associated with grade point average, natural and social sciences, and foreign language (ß = 0.280–0.326, all p ≤ 0.01). Speed-agility was associated with some language-related skills (ß = 0.325–0.393, all p ≤ 0.01). The laboratory-based muscular strength also showed an association with mathematics skills (ß = 0.251–0.306, all p ≤ 0.01). Physical activity did not show significant association with academic achievement (p > 0.01). Overall, the significant associations observed for muscular strength and speed/agility were attenuated and disappeared in many cases after additional adjustments for body mass index and cardiorespiratory fitness, indicating that these associations are inter-dependent. Our study contributes by indicating that other fitness components apart from cardiorespiratory fitness, such as muscular strength and speed-agility, are positively associated with academic achievement. However, these associations appear to be dependent on body mass index and cardiorespiratory fitness.