Differences in Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, Health-Related Physical Performance Indices and Academic Achievement: A Comparative Study of Normal-Weight and Obese Children in Qatar

Souhail Hermassi; Sascha Ketelhut; Ferman Konukman; Mohammed Ali Ayari; Senaid Al-Marri; Nasser Al Rawahi; El Ghali Bouhafs; Claudio R Nigg; René Schwesig

doi:10.3390/jcm13041057

Differences in Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, Health-Related Physical Performance Indices and Academic Achievement: A Comparative Study of Normal-Weight and Obese Children in Qatar

J Clin Med. 2024 Feb 13;13(4):1057. doi: 10.3390/jcm13041057.

Authors

Souhail Hermassi¹, Sascha Ketelhut², Ferman Konukman¹, Mohammed Ali Ayari³, Senaid Al-Marri¹, Nasser Al Rawahi¹, El Ghali Bouhafs⁴, Claudio R Nigg², René Schwesig⁵

Affiliations

¹ Physical Education Department, College of Education, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar.
² Institute of Sport Science, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
³ Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Physics, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar.
⁴ Department of Sports Science, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany.
⁵ Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany.

Abstract

Background: The relationship between physical activity (PA), health-related physical performance (PP), and academic achievement (AA) plays an important role in childhood. This study examined the differences in PA, sedentary behavior, health-related PP, maturity status, and AA between normal-weight and obese school children in Qatar. Methods: Eighty schoolchildren were recruited (age: 12.1 ± 0.6 years). Based on age-specific BMI percentiles, the children were classified as normal weight (n = 40) or obese (n = 40). Moore's equations were used to estimate their maturity status (PHV). The measurements encompassed anthropometric data as well as PP tests (medicine ball throw, postural stability, handgrip strength). AA was assessed by reviewing school records for grade point average in Mathematics, Science, and Arabic courses. The total amount of time spent participating in PA each week was calculated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form. Results: Handgrip strength was the only parameter that showed a relevant group difference (p < 0.001, η_p² = 0.15; normal weight: 19.7 ± 3.46 N; obese: 21.7 ± 2.80 N). We found only one moderate correlation between PHV and handgrip strength (r = 0.59). Conclusions: The findings suggest that obesity status alone might not serve as a sufficient predictor of AA in school or PA levels.

Keywords: academic achievement; anthropometrics; physical activity; schoolchildren; sedentary behavior.

Grants and funding

This research was funded by Qatar University, grant number QUCG-CED-22/23-522 (Collaborative Grant). The findings achieved herein are solely the responsibility of the authors.