Relation between body composition, physical qualities, and cognitive function in students of physical education

Controversial results are shown on the relation between anthropometry, physical qualities, and performance in cognitive tests. While some works pinpoint the relation of BMI, percentage of fat, or aerobic capacity with attention, memory, or inhibitory control, others do not find significant relations. The aim of the present study was to relate body composition, physical qualities, intelligence, attention, and memory. The sample was constituted by 125 students enrolled in the undergraduate program of pedagogy in physical education. Physical qualities and cognitive functions were assessed in the whole sample, whereas 50 students also carried out anthropometric evaluations. No differences were found in cognitive function by gender, however, males presented higher indexes in physical qualities, in muscular mass, and in anthropometric diameters, whereas females presented higher indexes in cutaneous folds. Also, low relations were found between arm and leg power and intelligence and supported attention, whilst memory and selective attention did not show any relation with any of the physical variables evaluated. Our outcomes are similar to those from previous research on anthropometry and physical qualities in students of physical education. The relation with cognitive variables is coherent with previous works, assuming that a better physical condition allows a better blood irrigation, increase of the vascularization, neurogenesis and synaptogenesis, which can determine an improvement in cognitive test performance.