Adiposity and physical activity are not related to academic achievement in school-aged children.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate the hypotheses that in elementary school students: (1) adiposity and academic achievement are negatively correlated and (2) physical activity and academic achievement are positively correlated.

Methods

Participants were 1963 children in fourth to sixth grades. Adiposity was assessed by calculating body mass index (BMI) percentile and percent body fat and academic achievement with statewide standardized tests in 4 content areas. Socioeconomic status and age were control variables. A subset of participants (n = 261) wore an accelerometer for 3 days to provide objective measurement of physical activity. In addition, the association between weight status and academic achievement was examined by comparing children who could be classified as "extremely obe

SUBMITTER: LeBlanc MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3897206 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature