Academic Achievement and Physical Activity: The Ideal Relationship to Promote a Healthier Lifestyle in Adolescents

in Journal of Physical Activity and Health

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Sergio Estrada-Tenorio
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José A. Julián
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Alberto Aibar
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José Martín-Albo
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Javier Zaragoza
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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2019-0320
Keywords:
accelerometry; exercise; health promotion; youth
First Published Online:
28 Mar 2020
In Print:
Volume 17: Issue 5
Page Range:
525–532
Restricted access

Background: School environment provides several intervention opportunities for physical activity. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between objectively assessed moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and academic achievement in adolescents. Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected from 301 students aged between 13 and 15 years (46.51% boys), enrolled at 7 secondary schools in the city of Huesca (Spain). Participants wore accelerometers during a 7-day period, and their academic achievement was calculated from the average marks of all subjects. Structural equation modeling and quadratic regression analysis were performed to test both linear and nonlinear explanatory models. One-way analysis of variance was also performed to explore the effect of gender and the percentage of compliance with MVPA recommendations. Results: MVPA on weekdays and higher levels of body mass index were negatively associated with academic achievement. According to the curvilinear relationship, those students whose MVPA levels were closer to the daily recommendation were more likely to obtain higher academic achievement. However, a significant association was only shown in the case of boys. Conclusions: Adolescents who satisfy the international recommendations tend to obtain better academic achievement. Therefore, MVPA for adolescents should be prescribed within some beneficial time margins (50–70 min/d).

Estrada-Tenorio is with the CAPAS-Cité (Centre for the Promotion of Physical Activity and Health), University of Zaragoza, Huesca, Spain. Julián and Martín-Albo are with the Faculty of Social Sciences and Human Studies, University of Zaragoza, Teruel, Spain. Aibar and Zaragoza are with the Faculty of Social Sciences and Education, University of Zaragoza, Huesca, Spain.

Estrada-Tenorio (estradaten@unizar.es) is corresponding author.
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