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Fitness change and subsequent academic performance in adolescents
Li-Jung Chen1, Kenneth R Fox, Po-Wen Ku
1National Taiwan University of Physical Education and Sport, No. 16, Section 1, Shuang-Shih Road, Taichung 404, Taiwan. ljchen@ntupes.edu.tw
Background:
This study examined the association between fitness change and subsequent academic performance in Taiwanese schoolchildren from 7th grade to 9th grade.
Methods:
The 7th graders from 1 junior high school district participated in this study (N = 669). Academic performance was extracted from school records at the end of each grade. Cardiovascular (CV) fitness, sit-and-reach flexibility, bent-leg curl-ups, and height and weight for calculating body mass index (BMI) were assessed at the start of each grade.
Results:
The results showed that improvement in CV fitness, but not muscular endurance or flexibility, is significantly related to greater academic performance. A weak and nonsignificant academic-BMI relationship was seen.
Conclusion:
CV fitness exhibits stronger longitudinal associations with academic performance than other forms of fitness or BMI for adolescents.
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