Low Aerobic Fitness and Obesity Are Associated with Lower Standardized Test Scores in Children - 07/03/14
Reprint requests: Dr William J. McCarthy, University of California, Los Angeles, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control Research, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6900.Abstract |
Objective |
To investigate whether aerobic fitness and obesity in school children are associated with standardized test performance.
Study design |
Ethnically diverse (n = 1989) 5th, 7th, and 9th graders attending California schools comprised the sample. Aerobic fitness was determined by a 1-mile run/walk test; body mass index (BMI) was obtained from state-mandated measurements. California standardized test scores were obtained from the school district.
Results |
Students whose mile run/walk times exceeded California Fitnessgram standards or whose BMI exceeded Centers for Disease Control sex- and age-specific body weight standards scored lower on California standardized math, reading, and language tests than students with desirable BMI status or fitness level, even after controlling for parent education among other covariates. Ethnic differences in standardized test scores were consistent with ethnic differences in obesity status and aerobic fitness. BMI-for-age was no longer a significant multivariate predictor when covariates included fitness level.
Conclusions |
Low aerobic fitness is common among youth and varies among ethnic groups, and aerobic fitness level predicts performance on standardized tests across ethnic groups. More research is needed to uncover the physiological mechanisms by which aerobic fitness may contribute to performance on standardized academic tests.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Mots-clés : BMI, CAT6, CDC, CST
Plan
| Supported in part by a grant from the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disorders (1R01-DK063507). The sponsor had no role in the design of the study, in the collection, analysis, or interpretation of the data, or in the writing or submission of this paper. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. |
Vol 156 - N° 5
P. 711 - mai 2010 Retour au numéro
Article précédent
- 50 Years Ago in The Journal of Pediatrics : Interrelationships in the Urinary Excretion of Creatine, Creatinine, Free Alpha Amino Acid Nitrogen, and Total Nitrogen in Premature Infants
- Patti J. Thureen, William W. Hay
- Birth Weight, Family History of Diabetes, and Metabolic Syndrome in Children and Adolescents
- Fernando Guerrero-Romero, Celia Aradillas-García, Luis E. Simental-Mendia, Elizabeth Monreal-Escalante, Esperanza de la Cruz Mendoza, Martha Rodríguez-Moran
Bienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
L’accès au texte intégral de cet article nécessite un abonnement.
Déjà abonné à cette revue ?