title: Objectively measured physical activity has a negative but weak association with academic performance in children and adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is an emerging body of evidence on the potential effects of regular physical activity on academic performance. The aim of this study was to add to the debate, by examining the association between objectively measured physical activity and academic performance in a relatively large sample of children and adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Spanish UP & DOWN study is a 3-year longitudinal study designed to assess the impact, overtime, of physical activity and sedentary behaviours on health indicators. This present analysis was conducted with 1778 children and adolescents aged 6-18 years. Physical activity was objectively measured by accelerometry. Academic performance was assessed using school grades.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Physical activity was inversely associated with all academic performance indicators after adjustment for potential confounders, including neonatal variables, fatness and fitness (all p < 0.05). This association became nonsignificant among quartiles of physical activity. There were only slight differences in academic performance between the lowest and the second quartile of physical activity, compared to the highest quartile, with very small effect size (d < 0.20).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Objectively measured physical activity may influence academic performance during both childhood and adolescence, but this association was negative and very weak. Longitudinal and intervention studies are necessary to further our understanding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, Sports and Human Movement, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Esteban-Cornejo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, Sports and Human Movement, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tejero-González
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, Sports and Human Movement, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martinez-Gomez
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, Sports and Human Movement, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cabanas-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, School of Education, University of Cadiz, Puerto Real, Spain.
authors.forename: Jorge R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Fernández-Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, School of Education, University of Cadiz, Puerto Real, Spain.
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Conde-Caveda
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sallis
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, Sports and Human Movement, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Oscar L
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Veiga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity
keywords: Academic performance; Accelerometry; Adolescents; Children; Physical activity