Longitudinal Relationships of Fitness, Physical Activity, and Weight Status With Academic Achievement in Adolescents.
To examine associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity (PA) and weight status with academic achievement 1 year later. In addition, the mediating role of psychological variables was tested.



Longitudinal analyses included 1011 German students (M = 14.1 years, SD = 0.6 years). Cardiorespiratory fitness was determined with the 20 m shuttle run test. Compliance with PA guidelines was assessed through questionnaire. Weight status was based on body mass index percentiles. As proxy of academic achievement students' self-reported grades in Mathematics and German in their midterm report were averaged. Mediation analyses were conducted at follow-up testing general self-efficacy, depressed affect, and attention/hyperactivity problems.



High levels of cardiorespiratory fitness predicted higher educational attainment (p = .007), while we found no longitudinal association for PA and weight status (p > .253). However, students being insufficiently physically active at baseline but meet PA guidelines at follow-up showed a significant improvement in educational attainment. The cross-sectional association between PA and academic achievement was mediated by students' general self-efficacy.



High fitness in adolescence is associated with higher subsequent academic achievement. The promotion of PA might benefit school performance because of enhanced fitness levels in the long-term and positive influences of PA in the shortterm. The association between weight status and educational attainment remains controversial.
Institute for Therapy and Health Research (IFT-Nord), Harmsstrasse 2, 24114 Kiel, Germany. suchert@ift-nord.de.
Vivien
V
Suchert
Institute for Therapy and Health Research (IFT-Nord), Harmsstrasse 2, 24114 Kiel, Germany. hanewinkel@ift-nord.de.
Reiner
R
Hanewinkel
Institute for Therapy and Health Research (IFT-Nord), Harmsstrasse 2, 24114 Kiel, Germany. isensee@ift-nord.de.
Barbara
B
Isensee
D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D000072599:Cardiorespiratory Fitness / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D013334:Students
academic achievement; adolescents; fitness; physical activity; weight status