The Journal of Pediatrics
Volume 156, Issue 5 , Pages 711-718.e1, May 2010

Low Aerobic Fitness and Obesity Are Associated with Lower Standardized Test Scores in Children

  • Christian K. Roberts, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physiological Science, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
    • Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
    • UCLA Center for Metabolic Disease Prevention, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
    • ,
  • Benjamin Freed, BA

      Affiliations

    • School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
    • ,
  • William J. McCarthy, PhD

      Affiliations

    • WestEd, Los Alamitos, CA
    • Department of Health Services, School of Public Health and Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, CA
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Dr William J. McCarthy, University of California, Los Angeles, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control Research, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6900.

Received 4 June 2009; received in revised form 31 August 2009; accepted 11 November 2009. published online 25 January 2010.

Objective

To investigate whether aerobic fitness and obesity in school children are associated with standardized test performance.

Study design

Ethnically diverse (n = 1989) 5th, 7th, and 9th graders attending California schools comprised the sample. Aerobic fitness was determined by a 1-mile run/walk test; body mass index (BMI) was obtained from state-mandated measurements. California standardized test scores were obtained from the school district.

Results

Students whose mile run/walk times exceeded California Fitnessgram standards or whose BMI exceeded Centers for Disease Control sex- and age-specific body weight standards scored lower on California standardized math, reading, and language tests than students with desirable BMI status or fitness level, even after controlling for parent education among other covariates. Ethnic differences in standardized test scores were consistent with ethnic differences in obesity status and aerobic fitness. BMI-for-age was no longer a significant multivariate predictor when covariates included fitness level.

Conclusions

Low aerobic fitness is common among youth and varies among ethnic groups, and aerobic fitness level predicts performance on standardized tests across ethnic groups. More research is needed to uncover the physiological mechanisms by which aerobic fitness may contribute to performance on standardized academic tests.

BMI, Body mass index (kg/m2), CAT6, California Achievement Test, version 6, CDC, Centers for Disease Control, CST, California Standards Test

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 Supported in part by a grant from the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disorders (1R01-DK063507). The sponsor had no role in the design of the study, in the collection, analysis, or interpretation of the data, or in the writing or submission of this paper. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

PII: S0022-3476(09)01148-2

doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2009.11.039

The Journal of Pediatrics
Volume 156, Issue 5 , Pages 711-718.e1, May 2010

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