Academic performance and psychosocial functioning in European schoolchildren: The role of cardiorespiratory fitness and weight status

Abstract

Summary Background Whether a high cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) can attenuate the potential detrimental effect of childhood obesity on academic performance and particularly psychosocial functioning remains unclear. Objectives To analyse the academic performance/psychosocial functioning of schoolchildren attending to their CRF and weight status. Methods 470 schoolchildren (46% girls, 7 ± 0 years) from 20 schools in five European countries were categorized as (i) having overweight/obesity (n = 113) or normal weight (n = 357) attending to body mass index and (ii) ‘fit’ (n = 282) or ‘unfit’ (n = 188) based on 20‐meter shuttle‐run performance (CRF ≥ or <42 ml·kg−1·min−1 [boys] and 35 ml·kg−1·min−1 [girls], respectively). Academic performance and psychosocial functioning were assessed using the grades attained in school subjects and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for parents, respectively. Results Independent of their weight status, fit children showed a greater academic performance and psychosocial functioning than their peers who were unfit and overweight/obese. In fit children, academic performance and psychosocial functioning did not differ between the two weight status categories (normal weight or overweight/obesity). Conclusions Children with a higher CRF show a greater performance achievement and psychosocial functioning regardless of their weight status, thereby supporting the ‘fat but fit’ paradox and reinforcing the importance of improving CRF in this population.

The moderating role of physical fitness in the relationship between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and adiposity in schoolchildren

“…For instance, Castro-Piñero et al 13 found in their study including children aged 6-10 years that 37% of boys and 70% of girls met the criterion-referenced standards for CRF (i.e., 42 and 35 ml/kg/min cutoff points in boys and girls, respectively). Similarly, Valenzuela et al 12 found in their study that the 60% of the European children analyzed (including Spanish children) met these same CRF criterion-referenced standards.It has been suggested that a balanced diet (e.g., low in SSBs) would have major physical fitness benefits during childhood and adolescence 14 . Supporting this notion, CRF has been found to be related to lower SSB consumption in adolescents (only statistically significant in girls) 15 .…”

“…For instance, Castro-Piñero et al 13 found in their study including children aged 6-10 years that 37% of boys and 70% of girls met the criterion-referenced standards for CRF (i.e., 42 and 35 ml/kg/min cutoff points in boys and girls, respectively). Similarly, Valenzuela et al 12 found in their study that the 60% of the European children analyzed (including Spanish children) met these same CRF criterion-referenced standards.…”

“…Similarly, another meta-analysis reported a moderate inverse association between muscular fitness and certain anthropometric indicators (e.g., skinfold thickness) over the years 9 . Previous studies among Spanish children have reported the proportion that meeting with the criterion-referenced standards for physical fitness 11,12 . For instance, Castro-Piñero et al 13 found in their study including children aged 6-10 years that 37% of boys and 70% of girls met the criterion-referenced standards for CRF (i.e., 42 and 35 ml/kg/min cutoff points in boys and girls, respectively).…”

Individual responsiveness to a school‐based karate intervention: An ancillary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

“…33 Interestingly, no differences between responders and non-responders were observed neither at baseline nor in the change induced by the intervention for other variables such as body mass index, physical activity levels, or cardiorespiratory fitness, which have been traditionally thought to mediate, at least partially, exercise benefits on cognitive performance and psychosocial functioning in children. 34,35 Thus, other variables apart from the abovementioned ones might explain the benefits observed with the present intervention, although research is warranted to confirm whether additional improvements might have been observed with more demanding interventions (e.g., interventions focused on improving cardiorespiratory fitness), particularly given that in the present ancillary analysis the intervention was implemented during the two hours of physical education, without adding any extra hours of physical activity.…”

“…Interestingly, no differences between responders and non‐responders were observed neither at baseline nor in the change induced by the intervention for other variables such as body mass index, physical activity levels, or cardiorespiratory fitness, which have been traditionally thought to mediate, at least partially, exercise benefits on cognitive performance and psychosocial functioning in children 34,35 …”