Physically active Chilean school kids perform better in language and mathematics

Abstract

SummaryWe examined the association between the engagement in regular physical activity (PA) and the academic performance (AP) of school-age children from Santiago Metropolitan Region. In a random sample of 1271 students (13.3 6 2.3 years old) we measured regular PA, accounting for hours of weekly scheduled exercise, and AP, using national standardized tests scores in Language and Mathematics. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to model the relation between academic and health-related behaviors. Two outcomes were considered: (i) sufficiency according to the Ministry of Education and (ii) discretionary sufficiency (tests z-scores !50th percentile). About 80% of students were poorly engaged in scheduled exercise (<2 h per week). Devoting more than 4 h per week to scheduled exercise significantly increased the odds of reaching the official and discretionary sufficiency in both Language and Mathematics. Moderate engagement (2-4 h per week) just improved the odds of reaching the discretionary sufficiency standard. These results confirm the poor engagement in regular exercise at the school level. School kids with the highest allocation of time to scheduled exercise have better AP in Language and Mathematics. Our findings support the notion that academic and health-related behaviors are linked and, similarly, that school health programs may have positive effects on educational outcomes.

Low muscle mass is associated with cardiometabolic risk regardless of nutritional status in adolescents: A cross-sectional study in a Chilean birth cohort

“…In Chile, sedentary behaviors seem to be the rule among adolescents. Population‐based study carried out in high schoolers from the Santiago Metropolitan Region reported that 80% of students devote less than 2 h/wk to scheduled exercise . Another study in 16‐year‐old Chilean adolescents found that males and females in the lowest quartile of physical activity had higher risk of obesity, abdominal obesity, and MetS …”

Physical Activity and Physical Fitness of School-Aged Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders

“…Our ability to complete physical fitness and physical activity assessments of children and youth with an ASD has additional educational implications. The relationship between academics and physical activity is a current topic of discussion in the United States [ 31 – 33 ] and federal initiatives aimed at improving the fitness of our youth have been implemented nationwide, with health and education in mind (e.g., Let's Move, Healthy People 2020). Eveland-Sayers et al [ 34 ] investigated physical fitness and academic achievement in elementary school children and found a link between specific components of physical fitness and academic achievement.…”

Relationships Between Physical Activity Level, Health-Related Fitness, Academic Achievement, and Academic Self-Concept

“…Fiziksel aktivitenin sebep olduğu fizyolojik değişimler fiziksel uygunlukta gelişmeye sebep olur. Fiziksel uygunluk; sağlık ve performans olmak üzere iki bileşenden oluşan ve öğrencilerin genel sağlığını ve dolaylı olarak akademik başarılarını etkileyen bir değişkendir (Correa- Burrows, Burrows, Ibaceta, Orellana ve Ivanovic, 2014). Araştırmalar sağlıkla ilişkili fiziksel uygunluk düzeyindeki artışın bilişsel işlevleri ve uyku kalitesini artırdığını, depresyon, kaygı ve stresi azalttığını ve dolayısı ile akademik başarıyı yükselttiğini göstermektedir (Castelli, Hillman, Buck ve Erwin, 2007;Santana vd., 2017;Tomporowski, Lambourne ve Okumura, 2011).…”