Associations between physical activity, fitness, and academic achievement.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the associations between objectively assessed intensity levels of physical activity and academic achievement and test whether cardiovascular fitness mediates the association between physical activity and academic achievement.


METHODS
Cross-sectional data were gathered in Swedish 9th-grade students (n = 232; mean age = 16 years; 52% girls). School grades, pubertal phase, skinfold thickness, cardiovascular fitness, and physical activity were measured objectively. Mother's education, family structure, and parental monitoring were self-reported. Data were analyzed with linear regression analyses.


RESULTS
After controlling for confounding factors, academic achievement was associated with vigorous physical activity in girls (beta = .30, P < .01; explained variance of the model 26%), which remained after inclusion of fitness (beta = .23, P < .05; explained variance 29%). The association was not mediated by fitness. In boys, academic achievement was associated with pubertal phase (beta = .25, P < .05). After inclusion of fitness, it was only associated with fitness (beta = .25, P < .05; explained variance of the model 30%).


CONCLUSIONS
In girls, academic achievement was associated with vigorous physical activity and not mediated by fitness, whereas in boys only fitness was associated with academic achievement. Further studies are necessary to investigate the potential longitudinal effect of vigorous physical activity on academic achievement, the role of fitness herein and the implications of these findings for schools.
Kwak
Lydia
L
Unit for Preventive Nutrition, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden. lydia.kwak@ki.se
Kremers
Stef P J
SP
Bergman
Patrick
P
Ruiz
Jonatan R
JR
Rizzo
Nico S
NS
Sjöström
Michael
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden