title: Physical fitness and academic performance in middle school students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether physical fitness is linked to academic success in middle school students.
  
  
  METHODS
  The FITNESSGRAM test battery assessed students (n = 838) in the five components of health-related fitness. The Illinois Standardized Achievement Test (ISAT) was used to assess academic achievement in reading and math.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The largest correlations were seen for aerobic fitness and muscular endurance (ranging from 0.12 to 0.27, all p < 0.05). Boys in the Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) for aerobic fitness or muscular endurance were 2.5-3 times more likely to pass their math or reading exams. Girls in the HFZ for aerobic fitness were approximately 2-4 times as likely to meet or exceed reading and math test standards.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aerobic capacity and muscular endurance seem to positively affect academic achievement in middle school students.
authors.affiliation: Illinois State University, School of Kinesiology and Recreation, Bloomington, IL, USA. bassr@district87.org
authors.forename: Ronald W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Bass
authors.forename: Dale D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Kelly R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Laurson
authors.forename: Margaret M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Coleman
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D011932:Reading; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data