Relationship of aerobic fitness and self-reported physical activity with academic achievement among school children of Surat city, Gujarat: a correlation study

Background: Aerobic fitness (AF) and Physical activity (PA) has shown a numerous valuable effects on physical and mental health of school children. However, research on relationship of AF and PA with Academic achievement (AA) has been less explored in the developing countries. So the present study was undertaken to examine the relationship of AF and PA with AA among school children of Surat city, Western India.Methods: A total of 579 children aged between 10 to 14 years, were enrolled from 14 granted/nongranted schools of Surat city. Data on children’s demographics, anthropometric measures (height, weight, Body Mass Index), AF (20m shuttle run test) were abstracted. Information regarding head of the family, parents’ education, occupation and monthly income along with physical activity readiness questionnaire (PARQ) were also noted from the parents. PA was measured with cross culturally adapted English and Gujarati version of Physical activity questionnaire – children (PAQ-C). Children’s AA was measured by their recent examination results in mathematics, science, social study and language (Gujarati and English) subjects along with overall grades provided by the administrative services of the schools participating in the study. Spearmen’s correlation coefficient was used to assess relationship of AF and PA with AA among children.  Results: Overall, mean VO2max for 20m shuttle run test among the children was 35.33±2.20 ml/kg/minute. Results of the study showed a significant moderate positive association of AF (VO2max and no.of laps) and PA (PAQ-C) with mathematics (rho=0.46, p<0.0001 for VO2max, rho=0.51, p<0.0001for no. of laps, rho=0.42, p<0.0001 for PA) and significant weak positive association of AF (VO2max and no.of laps) and PA (PAQ-C) with science (rho=0.34, p<0.0001 for VO2max, rho=0.32, p<0.0001for no.of laps, rho=0.36, p<0.0001 for PA) ,English (rho=0.35, p<0.0001 for VO2max, rho=0.34, p<0.0001for no. of laps, rho=0.35, p<0.0001 for PA), Gujarati (rho=0.39, p<0.0001 for VO2max, rho=0.33, p<0.0001for no. of laps, rho=0.38, p<0.0001 for PA) ,social study (rho=0.22, p<0.0001 for VO2max, rho=0.32, p<0.0001for no. of laps, rho=0.36, p<0.0001 for PA)  and overall grades (rho=0.32, p<0.0001 for VO2max, rho=0.31, p<0.0001 for no. of laps, rho=0.34, p<0.0001 for PA) amongst all the children. All the correlations remain significant even after controlling socio-economical status and age.Conclusions: The present study concluded that AF and PA has more impact on mathematics subject compared to science, language, social study and overall grades among school children. Academic success is associated with higher level of CRF levels. So the schools should reflect the plans to progress AF and PA as part of their overall strategy for improving AA.