Influencia de la actividad física y el sobrepeso en el rendimiento académicorevisión teórica

Resumo

Physical activity is an issue of global concern today. Its implications on people’s physical and mental health are highly documented. Physical inactivity is ranked as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality and also is a direct cause of overweight and, at a higher extent, of obesity, so it leads to higher public costs by Health Systems. Physical activity produces a series of physiological processes that are highly related with cognitive processes, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor segregation. Processes such as memory and attention are increased by regular physical activity. Therefore, there exist scientific evidence for the relationship between physical activity and academic performance. Furthermore, both overweight and obesity have raised as variables negatively associated to academic performance and some psychological aspects, such as self-concept. The objective of this review , therefore, is to make a compilation and description of the results of various investigations regarding the benefits of physical activity on academic performance and adverse effects of childhood overweight and obesity on it too.