Abstract
The aim of the present study was to analyse body composition, anxiety, cardiovascular, and physical activity factors related with academic performance of school students as well as to analyse differences, by age, in these factors. We analysed in 266 primary school students’ (8.81 ± 1.62 years, range: 5–13 years) heart rate, anthropometric variables to calculate body mass index, physical activity performance, anxiety levels and academic results by the average of marks. Students were divided in two different groups, firstly by their lower or higher academic performance, and secondly by age. Results showed a negative correlation between academic performance and age, weight, body mass index and trait anxiety variables. Additionally, significant differences were found by age, presenting older students higher scores in body mass index and lower physical activity, trait anxiety, heart rate and academic performance values than younger students. Overweight and obesity may have a great impact in academic performance in children and we pointed out the necessity to establish programs related with healthy habits which include improvements in physical activity and nutrition behaviours with the objective to enhance children’s health general status, psychological profile, cognitive and motor development, and academic performance.
Highlights
We found significant differences in body mass index (BMI) values (p = 0.013)
In the correlational analysis we found a negative significant correlation between academic performance and age (r: −0.154; p: 0.012), weight (r: −0.159; p: 0.012), BMI (r: −0.150, p: 0.019) and trait anxiety (r: −0.122; p: 0.047)
Significant differences were found in BMI with respect to the student’s grade; students in higher academic stages showed larger BMI values, which might be explained by the significantly less weekly physical activity shown by these students and the normal growth process associated with those ages [35]
Summary
Overweight and obesity are defined as an abnormal or excessive fat accumulation, which triggers in several pathologies, for which having high a body mass index (BMI) score is in an important risk factor [1]. 1975, obesity has nearly tripled worldwide [1], it could be assumed that obesity has become a pandemic, which may have a great impact in childhood development as it has been described by previous literature. A review of several studies described an association between childhood obesity and poor academic performance [7,8]. Obesity has been reported as “one of the most stigmatizing and least socially acceptable conditions in childhood” [9]
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