PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, PHYSICAL FITNESS AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN ADOLESCENTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

DE-PASS best evidence statement (BESt): determinants of adolescents' device-based physical activity and sedentary behaviour in settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Although physical activity (PA) is associated with significant health benefits, only a small percentage of adolescents meet recommended PA levels. This systematic review with meta-analysis explored the modifiable determinants of adolescents' device-based PA and/or sedentary behaviour (SB), evaluated in previous interventions and examined the associations between PA/SB and these determinants in settings.

METHODS

A search was conducted on five electronic databases, including papers published from January 2010 to July 2023. Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) or Controlled Trials (CTs) measuring adolescents' device-based PA/SB and their modifiable determinants at least at two time points: pre- and post-intervention were considered eligible. PA/SB and determinants were the main outcomes. Modifiable determinants were classified after data extraction adopting the social-ecological perspective. Robust Bayesian meta-analyses (RoBMA) were performed per each study setting. Outcomes identified in only one study were presented narratively. The risk of bias for each study and the certainty of the evidence for each meta-analysis were evaluated. The publication bias was also checked.

PROSPERO ID

CRD42021282874.

RESULTS

Fourteen RCTs (eight in school, three in school and family, and one in the family setting) and one CT (in the school setting) were included. Fifty-four modifiable determinants were identified and were combined into 33 broader determinants (21 individual-psychological, four individual-behavioural, seven interpersonal, and one institutional). RoBMAs revealed none or negligible pooled intervention effects on PA/SB or determinants in all settings. The certainty of the evidence of the impact of interventions on outcomes ranged from very low to low. Narratively, intervention effects in favour of the experimental group were detected in school setting for the determinants: knowledge of the environment for practicing PA, d = 1.84, 95%CI (1.48, 2.20), behaviour change techniques, d = 0.90, 95%CI (0.09, 1.70), choice provided, d = 0.70, 95%CI (0.36, 1.03), but no corresponding effects on PA or SB were found.

CONCLUSIONS

Weak to minimal evidence regarding the associations between the identified modifiable determinants and adolescents' device-based PA/SB in settings were found, probably due to intervention ineffectiveness. Well-designed and well-implemented multicomponent interventions should further explore the variety of modifiable determinants of adolescents' PA/SB, including policy and environmental variables.

Association between nutritional status, body composition, and fitness level of adolescents in physical education in Casablanca, Morocco

Aim

This study aims to analyze and compare dietary intake, as well as to examine the associations between energy intake in terms of macronutrients, body composition, and physical fitness (PF) specifically cardiorespiratory endurance (CE) among a sample of young adolescents aged 15 to 18 years, who participate in physical education and sports sessions in public schools in Casablanca, Morocco.

Materials and methods

A total of 311 participants, including 156 girls and 154 boys, were included in the study. Each participant maintained a food diary for 3 days during the same study week. Additionally, body composition measurements were taken using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). The PF was assessed using the validated mini-Cooper test (6 min).

Results

The results show that the participants had an average total energy intake of 2386.7 ± 492.7 kcal. A significant difference was observed between boys and girls, with average energy intakes of 2468.8 ± 531.1 kcal and 2304.0 ± 437.0 kcal, respectively. These dietary intakes were significantly lower than their needs and nutritional recommendations. The associations of nutritional status, sex, body mass index (BMI) and physical fitness (PF) were tested and a positive correlation was observed following an adequate intake of carbohydrates (CHO) and proteins on Vo2max, while a negative association was observed with regard to Body fat for both sexes. Boys exhibit significantly better PF than girls (p < 0.01). Obese participants had the lowest PF and an unbalanced nutritional status, the adolescents with a normal weight p < 0.01 displayed a high level of PF compared to individuals in other weight categories.

Conclusion

The PF is significantly associated with macronutrient intake status and body composition, especially BMI and BF. The Underweight, overweight, and obese students demonstrated poorer performance in physical fitness indices compared to normal-weight. Adolescents adhering to recommended CHO and protein intake levels tend to exhibit enhanced physical fitness. Implementing strategies to encourage students to maintain a balanced diet and engage in regular physical exercise is essential.

Can Moving More and Sitting Less Improve the Academic Engagement of Adolescents?- A Study Based on Junior High School Students in Shanghai, China

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between academic engagement and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), muscle-strengthening exercise (MSE) and sedentary behavior (SB) among adolescents, so as to provide evidence from the perspective of exercising for students to learn efficiently, teachers to improve classroom teaching, and schools to improve educational quality.

Methods

A questionnaire survey was conducted in 12 junior high schools in Shanghai, China, which were selected by a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method. Then, with the valid data of 2078 students collected from the survey. A data analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics 26.0. Multiple linear regression models were adopted to analyze the factors affecting adolescent academic engagement and to determine whether MVPA, MSE, and SB play roles in it.

Results

(1) The differences in academic engagement depended on the exercise adherence to the recommended amount of MVPA, MSE, and screen-based SB. (2) In terms of the three independent variables of total time, MSE (β = 0.206) and MVPA (β = 0.175) showed a significant positive correlation with academic engagement, while SB (β = -0.155) was negatively correlated with academic engagement. (3) From the linear regression model of eight combination groups divided by the exercise adherence to the recommended amount of MVPA, MSE and SB, the group that met none of the recommendations (β = -0.235) showed a significant negative effect on academic engagement, while the groups that met any two or all three of the recommendations demonstrated strong positive correlations with academic engagement (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Increasing adolescents' muscle-strengthening exercise and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior can effectively promote academic engagement. Therefore, adolescents are suggested to reach the recommended amounts of physical activity, muscle-strengthening exercise, and sedentary behavior so as to improve academic engagement more effectively.

Exercise makes better mind: a data mining study on effect of physical activity on academic achievement of college students

The effect of physical activity (PA) on academic achievement has long been a hot research issue in physical education, but few studies have been conducted using machine learning methods for analyzing activity behavior. In this paper, we collected the data on both physical activity and academic performance from 2,219 undergraduate students (Mean = 19 years) over a continuous period of 12 weeks within one academic semester. Based on students' behavioral indicators transformed from a running APP interface and the average academic course scores, two models were constructed and processed by CHAID decision tree for regression analysis and significance detection. It was found that first, to attain higher academic performance, it is imperative for students to not only exhibit exceptional activity regularity, but also sustain a reduced average step frequency; second, the students completing running exercise with an average frequency of 1 time/week and the duration of 16-25 min excelled over approximately 88 percentage of other students on academic performance; third, the processing validity and reliability of physical observation data in complex systems can be improved by utilizing decision tree as a leveraging machine learning tool and statistical method. These findings provide insights for educational practitioners and policymakers who will seek to enhance college students' academic performance through physical education programs, combined with data mining methods.

The Effects of Cognitively Challenging Physical Activity Games versus Health-Related Fitness Activities on Students' Executive Functions and Situational Interest in Physical Education: A Group-Randomized Controlled Trial

This study compared cognitively challenging physical activity games and health-related fitness activities in terms of their effects on students' executive functions and situational interest in physical education. A total of 102 fourth- and fifth-grade students (56 boys, 46 girls) participated in this study. A group-randomized controlled trial design involving an acute experiment was used. Two intact classes of students (one fourth-grade and one fifth-grade) were randomly assigned to each one of the three groups. Students in Group 1 participated in cognitively challenging physical activity games, students in Group 2 participated in activities for developing their health-related fitness, and Group 3 students were the control group without physical education. Executive functions were measured pre- and post-intervention with the design fluency test, whereas situational interest was only measured post-intervention with the situational interest scale. Group 1 students who played cognitively challenging physical activity games had increased their executive functions' scores more than the Group 2 students involved in health-related fitness activities. Students of both these groups outperformed control group students. Moreover, Group 1 students reported higher levels of instant enjoyment and total interest than Group 2 students. The results of this study suggest that cognitively challenging physical activity games can be an effective means for enhancing executive functions, and motivate students to be involved in interesting and enjoyable forms of physical activity.

Is There Any Relationship between Physical Activity Levels and Academic Achievement? A Cross-Cultural Study among Spanish and Chilean Adolescents

The current scientific literature has shown significant disparity in results when physical activity is linked to academic achievement among adolescents. Thus, the main objectives of this study were (1) to analyze the relationship among students’ academic achievement, intention to be physically active, and physical activity levels depending on the country (Spain or Chile), as well as to analyze these relationships based on students’ socio-economic status, type of school, school year, gender, and body mass index; and (2) to analyze the differences between all these variables depending on the students’ country and gender. In total, 3052 adolescents participated in the research (14.58 ± 1.39 years): 734 Chilean students (336 males and 398 females) and 2318 Spanish students (1180 males and 1138 females). Various questionnaires were used to measure the study variables. The results revealed significant relationships between academic achievement and the rest of the variables in Spanish adolescents, but in the Chilean population, academic achievement was significantly related only to socio-economic status and the type of school. Moreover, Spanish students obtained higher scores, especially the males, except for academic achievement, which was higher in females. There were also significant differences in academic achievement, intention to be physically active, physical activity levels, and socio-economic status depending on the country, with all scores being higher in Spain. Given the results, the country seems to be an important factor when comparing academic achievement and physical activity levels, besides other demographic variables.

Physical fitness mediates the inverse association between fatness indicators and academic achievement, despite the school vulnerability of adolescents—The Cogni-Action Project

Objective

This study aims to determine the mediating role of physical fitness in the relationship between fatness indicators and academic achievement, exploring the influence of school vulnerability.

Methods

A total of 1,296 Chilean adolescents (aged 10 to 14 years; 50% girls) participated in this study. The global fitness score (GFS) was obtained by adding the three main components of the ALPHA fitness test: cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscular fitness (MF), and speed/agility fitness (SAF). CRF was evaluated through the 20 m shuttle run test; MF by upper and lower limb strength tests; and SAF by the 4 × 10 shuttle run test. BMIz and WHtR were evaluated as general (unspecific) and central (specific) fatness indicators. Academic achievement was established through grades in math, language, and science and their average scores. Multiple mediation analyses were performed according to two models, adjusted for sex, maturity, and schools (model 1), and in model 2, the school vulnerability index (SVI) was added. The SVI is an important proxy of socioeconomic status at the school level, and it was categorized as high-, mid-, or low-SVI. Mediation percentages were calculated, and confidence intervals (bootstrapping) were used to establish significant findings.

Results

CRF, SAF, and GFS mediate the relationship between fatness indicators and academic achievement, both partially and totally (ranging from 12.7 to 59.2%). However, MF did not show any mediation effect. After controlling for SVI, CRF, and GFS, mediation changed from partial to total in the associations between math and science with WHtR. Although SAF contributed to GFS mediation, CRF seems to have the most significant mediation role for all academic achievements, regardless of SVI and the fat indicator studied.

Conclusion

A higher level of general physical fitness, especially CRF, significantly mediates the detrimental influence of fatness on the academic achievement of schoolchildren. This study suggests that physical fitness plays a relevant role in academic and public health, considering the high prevalence and detrimental influence of obesity and school vulnerability in children and adolescents.

An Empirical Study on the Influence of College Students' Physical Fitness on the Level of Public Health

As a compulsory course in universities, physical fitness is an important part of public health. At present, research on physical fitness lacks a comprehensive evaluation method, which cannot accurately guide public health. Based on this, this paper compares the key factors affecting public health, aiming to better guide public health and improve the level of public health. In this paper, 219 college students were selected as the research object, using statistical analysis methods, to find out the significant differences in influencing factors. Then, regression analysis is carried out on different influencing factors to determine the key factors affecting physical fitness. The results show that physical fitness level, exercise frequency, and physical injury are the key factors affecting physical fitness and have a serious impact on public health, with an impact level of about 70~80%. Therefore, colleges and sports departments should set out from the above factors, formulate a development plan for physical fitness, and promote the improvement of public health.

The Relationship between Physical Activity and Academic Achievement in Multimodal Environment Using Computational Analysis

Health has always been recognized as the imperative parameter to excel in any field whether professional or personal. People with sound health having regular habit of physical activities show more potential in their professional and personal lives than the people who do not participate in the physical activities. Many state-of-the-art studies exist in the literature where researchers have proved the significance of physical activities as supportive treatment for the existing ailments and in improving the overall health of human beings. Our research aims at accessing the correlation between physical activities carried out by the students and its impact on the success rate of academic achievements. The study is using computational techniques to investigate the relevance of physical activities on the academic achievements of middle school children. The study employs data mining techniques for processing the data. The computational methods are used in a multimodal environment where the surrounding parameters of the environment are considered before performing computational techniques on the subjects (participants in terms of sample for the study). In this cross-sectional study, we have considered the data on various physical activities such as aerobic fitness, running, playing, and participation in extracurricular activities. After collection of data in a real multimodal environment from middle school students, the data preprocessing is performed to handle the missing values. Then, the computational techniques are applied in a step-by-step approach using regression and the bootstrap methods to examine the data and predict the outcome. The correlation is assessed between academic achievements and physical activities. The outcome predicts that physical activities promote the success rate of academic achievements including extra-curricular activities.