Physical fitness as an indicator of health status and its relationship to academic performance during the prepubertal period

Physical activity (PA) is considered one of the most important determinants of the health status in children, and predictor of morbidity/mortality in adults. The aim is to examine the relationship between physical fitness (PF), PA, obesity and academic performance (AP) in primary school children. Cr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health promotion perspectives 2017-01, Vol.7 (4), p.197-204
Main Authors: Fonseca Del Pozo, Francisco Javier, Alonso, Joaquín Valle, Álvarez, Manuel Vaquero, Orr, Siobhan, Cantarero, Francisco Jesús Llorente
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic achievement
Academic performance
Achievement tests
Adults
Aerobic capacity
Body fat
Body mass
Body mass index
Body size
Children
Cognition & reasoning
Cognitive ability
Cognitive performance
Education
Exercise
Intelligence
Intelligence tests
Lean body mass
Metabolism
Morbidity
Mortality
Obesity
Original
Physical activity
Physical education
Physical fitness
Public health
School boards
Sports injuries
Students
Teenagers
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Summary:Physical activity (PA) is considered one of the most important determinants of the health status in children, and predictor of morbidity/mortality in adults. The aim is to examine the relationship between physical fitness (PF), PA, obesity and academic performance (AP) in primary school children. Cross-sectional studies including 91 primary school students, aged 9 to 12 years, from the province of Córdoba. Data was collected from April to June 2014. We measured PF using part of the EUROFIT fitness testing battery. The level of PA was measured as low or high PF and the level of obesity was measured using body mass index, waist circumference, percentage of fat mass, lean body mass, percentage of lean mass and basal metabolism. AP by scores on the second quarter was based on the total average of scores of basic subjects and other subjects, including physical education. Cognitive performance was assessed by the Spanish overall and factorial intelligence test. The results of AP were positively related to levels of PF. Students who achieve better PF score better in Maths, (P=0.019), Natural Sciences (P=0.024), Religion (P=0.018) and Physical Education (P
ISSN:2228-6497
2228-6497
DOI:10.15171/hpp.2017.35