This paper presents a critique of two peer-reviewed journal articles that investigate the relationship between physical activity, physical fitness, and academic performance among college and university students. The first article by Calestine et al. (2017) examines fitness measures and GPA among 512 students enrolled in physical activity courses, finding no clear relationship between the two variables. The second article by Kljajevic et al. (2022) is a systematic review drawing on 7,675 university participants, finding moderate levels of physical activity and fitness across the sample. Both critiques highlight the importance of promoting physical activity in higher education and call for further research in this area.
Physical activity among college students has declined while sedentary behavior and tendencies have increased. Few studies have sought to examine this phenomenon and its impact — particularly on academic performance. Some of the studies that have been conducted show that a relationship exists between physical activity and academic outcomes. For instance, the article titled College Student Work Habits are Related to Physical Activity and Fitness examines the connection between academic outcomes, physical activity, and fitness measures — including body composition, flexibility, muscular endurance, and cardiovascular endurance — among college students. That article restates findings indicating a positive relationship between academic outcomes and fitness among youth aged 12–18 years old. However, no direct relationship was established between engagement in physical activity or exercise and academic performance among college students specifically.
Calestine et al. (2017) used a sample of 512 students to examine the relationship between fitness and academic performance. The authors employed a fitness assessment survey to collect fitness information from students enrolled in nutrition-credit physical activity classes. Ultimately, no relationship between fitness and GPA was established. There was also no clear relationship found between academic performance and BMI among college students. As the authors acknowledge, these findings do not align with the results of past studies, which largely targeted 12–18-year-olds.
The article addresses a topic that is clearly important in higher education, particularly regarding physical fitness. College administrators, fitness departments, campus health departments, and student healthcare providers all have a role to play in promoting lifelong health by advising on preventative interventions. Further studies in this area appear necessary, in part because the findings of the present study are, to some extent, counterintuitive. There is general consensus that regular physical activity has a positive impact on both physical and mental health, and that poor physical and mental health can in turn negatively affect academic performance. The absence of a measurable connection in this study makes additional investigation worthwhile.
"Critique of Kljajevic et al. systematic review findings"
Various health studies have in the past established that the health and wellbeing of individuals is positively impacted by, among other things, regular engagement in physical activity and the adoption of a healthy diet. The systematic review by Kljajevic et al. (2022) restates these findings in the context of university students. For this reason, there is sufficient justification for higher education institutions to prioritize physical activity as part of their broader commitment to student health and wellness.
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