The Association between Aerobic Fitness and Academic Achievement among Elementary School Youth

Abstract

ABSTRACT Physical activity (PA) and fitness are important for both healthy physical and mental development in youth, including positive effects for academic achievement. Several studies have shown positive associations between PA and academic achievement or cognitive function. However, fewer studies have examined these associations with large representative samples of youth with objective measurement of aerobic fitness and body composition. Therefore, the present study examined the association between aerobic fitness and academic achievement in a large sample of fourth and fifth grade youth from a large southeastern school district. In 2013, objectively measured aerobic capacity via FitnessGram® Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run was collected for all fourth and fifth grade youth (n = 8641) in a southeastern US county, along with several demographic characteristics. Students also completed the Palmetto Assessment of State Standards test for the following subjects: writing, English/language arts, math, science, and social studies. Multilevel linear regression models were used to examine associations between aerobic fitness and all subject test scores while controlling for demographic characteristics. Results from multilevel linear regression indicate that even after controlling for important covariates, including sex, race/ethnicity, school lunch status, grade level, and youth body mass index, there was a significant positive association between aerobic fitness and academic achievement in writing, English/language arts, math, science, and social studies. Further analysis indicated that the association between increased aerobic fitness and subject test scores was not modified by sex. In conclusion, these findings are supported by previous research highlighting the important role that aerobic fitness for elementary school youth plays in healthy brain development during this rapid period of growth and acquisition of cognitive skills, thus impacting lifelong academic achievement and educational attainment.