Term of Award
Summer 2017
Degree Name
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)
Document Type and Release Option
Dissertation (open access)
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Department
Department of Leadership, Technology, and Human Development
Committee Chair
Kymberly Harris
Committee Member 1
Yasar Bodur
Committee Member 2
Gavin Colquitt
Abstract
Childhood obesity rates have climbed significantly over the past 40 years. With that, there has also been an increase in the number of associated health concerns, such as diabetes, heart disease, and asthma, of many. Quite independently, there has also been an increase in the accountability placed on schools to improve their reading and math test scores. This has resulted in a decrease in physical activity times in schools in order to provide more class time for reading and math. This study’s purpose has been to identify whether a difference exists in academic outcomes for students in the HFZ compared to those in the HRZ in order to support better decision-making for school leaders in regards to reducing physical activity opportunities, like PE and recess. Using matched data for 666 fifth grade students from a southeastern Georgia community, this researcher measured student BMI and aerobic capacity scores comparing FITNESSGRAM® with results for these children on the MAP reading and math assessments. When accounting for SES, students in the HFZ for BMI and aerobic capacity had higher mean scores on the MAP math test. Students who were in the HRZ for BMI and not economically disadvantaged had a higher mean score in reading than students in the HFZ. Likewise, students who were in the HRZ for aerobic capacity and economically disadvantaged had a higher mean score in reading than students in the HFZ. None of the results were statistically significant, and, therefore, no difference between physical fitness and academic achievement for students in the HFZ compared to HRZ could be identified.
Recommended Citation
Pennington, N. (2017) The Difference in Academic Achievement for Students in the Healthy Fitness Zone Compared to the High Risk Zone for BMI and Aerobic Capacity.
Research Data and Supplementary Material
No
