Relationship between physical activity during school recess, weekly physical activity and academic performance

Physical inactivity has significant health consequences. School recess represent an opportunity to practice physical activity. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between the physical activity during school recess, weekly physical activity, and academic performance in young people. The study included 2399 young people aged 10 to 16 years, (1.175 boys, 49% - and 1.224 girls, 51%) with a mean age of 12,7 years. In collaboration with different educational centers, a sports habits practice questionnaire in young people was administered among them, that included the following variables: perception of being active people during recess, body mass index, performed physical activity hours, and weekly screen hours. The course-navette test, was administered in order to estimate the maximum volume of oxygen, besides the academic dossier of students was provided by the school. The study shows that young people's perception of being active people during recess, correlates with healthier BMI (t = 66,458; p = < 0,001) and VO2 max. (t = 27,165; p = < 0,001), with less screen hours (t = 51,659; p = < 0,001), more weekly physical activity ( t = 16,684; p = < 0,001), and better academic performance ( t = 42,944; p = < 0,001). These results reinforce the need for establish promoting and management environments strategies that boost the increase of physical activity during recess.