Overview and details of the sessions of this conference. Please select a date or location to show only sessions at that day or location. Please select a single session for detailed view (with abstracts and downloads if available).
Fit to learn: Population-level evidence that academic gains concentrate at health-related fitness thresholds in youth
Mónika Kaj1, Ferenc Vincze2, Katalin Kälbli1,3, Alexandra Cselkó1, Fransisco Ortega4, Gregor Jurak5, Tamás Csányi1,6
1: Hungarian School Sport Federation, Hungary; 2: University of Debrecen, Hungary; 3: Eotvos Lorand University, Hungary; 4: University of Granada, Spain; 5: University of Ljbuljana, Slovenia; 6: Hungarian University of Sport Science, Hungary
Background: Physical fitness is linked to cognitive and academic performance, but most studies are cross-sectional or small-scale. Evidence from large, longitudinal, population-level analyses using objective fitness and academic measures is limited. This study examined whether academic benefits of fitness increase gradually across the fitness spectrum or cluster around health-related thresholds relevant for policy.
Methods: Nationwide Hungarian administrative datasets were linked to combine objectively measured health-related fitness (NETFIT®) with standardized national mathematics and reading assessments. A closed cohort of 77,676 students was followed from Grades 6 to 8 (2022–2024). Linear mixed-effects models with natural spline functions assessed non-linear associations between fitness indicators and academic scores, adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and school-level risk factors.
Results: Higher fitness was consistently associated with higher academic scores. Each one-unit increase in body mass index corresponded to a 1.75-point lower predicted mathematics score. Cardiorespiratory fitness showed a non-linear pattern: mathematics scores increased by 4–6 points from low to moderate fitness before plateauing. Students in the Healthy Fitness Zone outperformed peers in the Health Risk Zone by 23–31 points in mathematics and 23–25 points in reading. A cumulative fitness index showed graded, positive associations with competence scores.
Conclusions: Physical fitness, particularly cardiorespiratory fitness, strongly predicts academic performance at the population level. Targeting students in low-fitness categories through school-based interventions may enhance learning outcomes and reduce educational inequalities.
Support/Funding Source: Hungarian School Sport Federation
