Association between academic achievement and physical status including physical activity, aerobic and muscular fitness tests in adolescent boys.
OBJECTIVE
The study aimed to explore the association between academic achievement and physical status including physical activity, aerobic and muscular fitness tests in a sample of adolescents.


METHODS
Five hundred and eighty 15-17 years old adolescent boys underwent standard anthropometry and various physical fitness tests (e.g., one-mile run/walk, grip strength, run speed, agility, push-ups and sit and reach tests). PA was obtained by questionnaire. Academic achievement of the boys was extracted from the cumulative grade point averages (CGPA) from school records. Possible covariates/confounders such as adiposity, pubertal maturation status and socioeconomic status were obtained.


RESULTS
After controlling for potential confounders PA was not significantly correlated to CGPA (P > 0.05). Among the physical fitness tests, just time in one-mile run/walk test added significant effect on prediction of CGPA (P < 0.01). None of the other fitness tests were significantly correlated to CGPA (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Aerobic fitness (but not PA and muscular fitness) was significantly correlated to better academic achievement in the adolescent boys.
Department of Sport Physiology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. hassankalantari88@yahoo.com.
Hassan-Ali
HA
Kalantari
Department of Sport Physiology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. samad_esmaeilzadeh@uma.ac.ir.
Samad
S
Esmaeilzadeh
D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010809:Physical Fitness
Adolescent boys; Cumulative grade point averages; Muscular fitness; One-mile run/walk test