Rendimiento académico y su relación con niveles de actividad física y de condición física en adolescentes / Academic Performance Relation with Physical Fitness in Adolescents

El objetivo del estudio fue determinar si existe una relación entre los hábitos de actividad física (HAF) y el nivel de condición física sobre el rendimiento académico en alumnos de Segundo Ciclo de Educación Secundaria de Leganés. La muestra estaba compuesta por 1348 adolescentes de ambos sexos con un rango de edad comprendido entre los 14 y los 18 años= 15.65±.97), alumnos de 13 institutos de la población de Leganés en Madrid. La evaluación de los hábitos de actividad física se realizó mediante la versión modificada del cuestionario Assessment of Physical Activity Level Questionnaire (APALQ). La valoración de la condición física se realizó mediante la administración de la batería de test FITNESSGRAM. El rendimiento académico se evaluó en cuestionario, mediante el número de asignaturas suspensas en la última evaluación. Encontramos diferencias significativas entre los alumnos que suspendieron una o más de una asignatura, respecto los que no suspendieron ninguna, en capacidad cardiorrespiratoria (p=0.016). No encontramos diferencias significativas en fuerza prensil, flexibilidad o hábitos de actividad física. En conclusión, los alumnos con mejor rendimiento académico tienen mejores niveles de capacidad cardiovascular

The aim of the study was to determine whether there is a relationship between the physical activity level and fitness condition over the academic performance of secondary school students in Leganes. The sample consisted of 1348 adolescents of both sexes aged between 14 and 18 years (M =15.65±.97), all of them students from 13 schools of the town of Leganes, Madrid. To measure the physical activity level, a modified version of the Assessment of Physical Activity Level Questionnaire (APALQ) was utilized. The assessment of their fitness condition was performed via the administration of the FITNESSGRAM test battery. The academic performance was measured by the number of failed subjects during the last term. Regarding their level of cardio respiratory fitness, we found significant differences between students who failed one or more subjects and those who did not fail any subjects (p=0.016). There were no significant differences in grip strength, flexibility or physical activity level. In conclusion, students who perform better academically have higher levels of cardiovascular fitness

Body fat percentage is more associated with low physical fitness than with sedentarism and diet in male and female adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a multifactorial disease and our understanding of this disease is still incomplete. PURPOSE: The aim of this investigation was to examine the associations between body fat percentage and physical fitness, diet and active/sedentary behaviors in female and male adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 1389 Spanish adolescents (706 boys and 683 girls) aged between 14 and 17years. Individual body fat percentage was measured by means of bioelectrical impedance analysis and participants' physical fitness was determined by measuring cardiorespiratory fitness (20-m shuttle run test), muscular strength (handgrip dynamometry), muscular endurance (curl-up and 90° push up repetition tests) and muscular flexibility (sit-and-reach test). Daily physical activity, sedentary time and diet were estimated using validated and self-reported questionnaires. The participants were divided into quartiles based on their body fat percentage. RESULTS: Boys and girls included in Q3 and Q4 presented lower values for cardiorespiratory fitness than Q1 (P<0.05). Boys and girls included in Q4 also presented lower values for muscular endurance than Q1 (P<0.05). Only boys in Q4 presented lower levels of physical activity than Q1 (P<0.05). Physical activity, physical fitness and diet can explain 30% of the variance for body fat percentage in boys and 17% in girls. CONCLUSIONS: Female and male adolescents with a higher body fat percentage presented lower cardiorespiratory and muscular endurance fitness than leaner counterparts.