Change in weight status and academic performance among senior high school students in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
This study examines how the changes in weight status across the spectrum of a senior high school study are associated with academic performance measured by the university entrance exam scores.


METHODS
A unique dataset which compiles a national health examination profile and the General Scholastic Ability Test data bank in Taiwan was constructed. The final sample comprised 149,240 senior high school students of which 70,662 were males and 78,578 were female students. The school-level fixed effect models were estimated.


RESULTS
Students who were either (a) not overweight in the first year but overweight in the third year of senior high school, (b) overweight in both the first and third year, or (c) overweight in the first year but not overweight in the third year, were more likely to score lower on the university entrance exam, compared with their never-overweight counterparts. The findings differ by gender and test subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The change in weight status during senior high school period is associated with subsequent university entrance exam outcome. Students who start senior high school being overweight should be paid attention. School-based programs and practices need to be implemented to reduce the prevalence of overweight among students.
Department of Economics, Shih Hsin University, Taiwan.
Pei-An
PA
Liao
Department of Agricultural Economics, National Taiwan University, Taiwan.
Hung-Hao
HH
Chang
Department of Bio-industry Communication and Development, National Taiwan University, Taiwan. No 1, Roosevelt Rd, Sec 4, Taipei 10617, Taiwan. Email: wangjh@ntu.edu.tw.
Jiun-Hao
JH
Wang
Office of Physical Education, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taiwan.
Min-Chen
MC
Wu
D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology*; D011203:Poverty; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D013624:Taiwan