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Association between academic achievement and physical status including physical activity, aerobic and muscular fitness tests in adolescent boys

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Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine Aims and scope

Abstract

Objective

The study aimed to explore the association between academic achievement and physical status including physical activity, aerobic and muscular fitness tests in a sample of adolescents.

Methods

Five hundred and eighty 15–17 years old adolescent boys underwent standard anthropometry and various physical fitness tests (e.g., one-mile run/walk, grip strength, run speed, agility, push-ups and sit and reach tests). PA was obtained by questionnaire. Academic achievement of the boys was extracted from the cumulative grade point averages (CGPA) from school records. Possible covariates/confounders such as adiposity, pubertal maturation status and socioeconomic status were obtained.

Results

After controlling for potential confounders PA was not significantly correlated to CGPA (P > 0.05). Among the physical fitness tests, just time in one-mile run/walk test added significant effect on prediction of CGPA (P < 0.01). None of the other fitness tests were significantly correlated to CGPA (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Aerobic fitness (but not PA and muscular fitness) was significantly correlated to better academic achievement in the adolescent boys.

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Abbreviations

BMI:

Body mass index

CRF:

Cardiorespiratory fitness

CGPA:

Cumulative grade point average

PA:

Physical activity

PAQ-A:

PA Questionnaire-Adolescents

SES:

Socioeconomic status

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Acknowledgments

We thank all participants for their kind participation in the study. No funding was received for performing the present study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sport Physiology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

    Hassan-Ali Kalantari & Samad Esmaeilzadeh

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  1. Hassan-Ali Kalantari
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  2. Samad Esmaeilzadeh
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Correspondence to Samad Esmaeilzadeh.

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Kalantari, HA., Esmaeilzadeh, S. Association between academic achievement and physical status including physical activity, aerobic and muscular fitness tests in adolescent boys. Environ Health Prev Med 21, 27–33 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12199-015-0495-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12199-015-0495-x

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