This brief review aims to empirically summarize the expansive and ever-growing literature about the impact of physical activity interventions on cognitive function and academic performance. To better understand these relationships, this overview included research from different physical activity settings, such as school-based physical education, classroom-based physical activity and extracurricular physical activity. Given the findings adduced from the literature on this field, it could be argued that physical activity produces important changes in the brain, which mediate enhancements in cognitive performance as well as academic achievement. Therefore, the aim of this work is to analyze how physical activity may provide different pathways to improve cognitive health and academic performance among school-age children.

Although physical activity has positive physical and mental health outcomes, particularly among adolescents, a significant percentage of young people maintain a largely sedentary lifestyle. Considering that the youths spend the greater part of the day at school, this is considered an ideal setting to foster active and healthy living. Consequently, this study is intended to investigate the connection between physical activity, self-efficacy and academic achievement in normal-weight and overweight adolescents. In total, 100 students (aged 14–15) from a public high school placed in the south of Italy were enrolled. They participated either in a 12-week classroom-based physical activity break program performed during science classes (60′/2 days per week) in which a nutritional educational program was carried out or in regular science lessons (60′/2 days per week). At the beginning and end of the intervention programs, a set of standardized motor evaluation tests (standing long jump test, Harvard step test, push up, sit and reach test), the scholastic self-efficacy test and the Amos 8-15 were administered. As a result, a meaningful Time × Group interaction for the self-efficacy variable and Amos 8-15 was observed in the intervention group. Specifically, they reported significant improvement in study skills, motivational factors, concentration and self-efficacy, as well as a decrease in anxiety and BMI (p < 0.001). No significant change was observed in the control group. The conclusions of this research underpin the notion that classroom-based physical activity break is a successful approach for enhancing students’ psycho-physical well-being, as well as academic achievement.

The purpose of this article is to identify and highlight the importance of physical and sports practice as an integral and fundamental part of educational processes, to develop Life Skills. Through enhancing the body as a tool, and with the help of educational sports practice, it is possible to implement effective strategies that can be adopted to address the various problems people encounter in daily life. This can help them understand and manage their cognitive, emotional and relational skills and develop resilience and personal empowerment that can be used for life.   La promozione del modello European LifeComp attraverso l’attività fisica e sportiva. Lo scopo di questo lavoro è quello di individuare e mettere in evidenza l’importanza della pratica motoria e sportiva quale parte integrante e fondamentale dei processi educativi, soprattutto nell’ottica dello sviluppo delle Life Skills. Attraverso la valorizzazione e l’utilizzo dello strumento del corpo, e con l’ausilio della mediazione educativa della pratica sportiva si possono mettere in atto strategie efficaci che le persone possono adottare per affrontare i diversi problemi della vita quotidiana, conoscere e gestire le proprie competenze cognitive, emotive e relazionali e sviluppare le capacità di resilienza ed empowerment personale utili lungo tutta la vita.