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Society of Behavioral Medicine position statement: elementary school-based physical activity supports academic achievement

  • Practice and Public Health Policies
  • Published:
Translational Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

The Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) urges elementary schools to provide children with ample opportunities to engage in physical activity during school hours. In addition to promoting overall child health, physical activity also supports academic achievement. In addition to improving their aerobic fitness, regular physical activity improves cognitive function, influences the brain, and improves mood in children. Better aerobic fitness and physical activity are associated with increased grade point averages and standardized test scores. Despite the documented relationship between physical activity, fitness, and academic achievement, few schools have implemented physical activity as a tool to improve academic performance. SBM recommends that elementary schools provide children with the recommended 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during school hours. Further, SBM urges schools to work with the local school districts and state education departments to mandate minimum physical activity time for elementary school physical education.

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Acknowledgments

This manuscript was supported by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health under award numbers R25CA057699 and R01HD072153, respectively. JB was supported by the National Cancer Institute. DKW was supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The authors wish to gratefully acknowledge the expert review provided by the Society of Behavioral Medicine’s Health Policy Committee, Health Policy Council, and Physical Activity Special Interest Group.

Conflict of interest

Joanna Buscemi, Angela Kong, Marian L. Fitzgibbon, Eduardo E. Bustamante, Catherine L. Davis, Russell R. Pate, and Dawn K. Wilson declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Adherence to ethical standards

All procedures were conducted in accordance with ethical standards.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Joanna Buscemi PhD, Angela Kong PhD & Marian L. Fitzgibbon PhD

  2. Georgia Prevention Center, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA, USA

    Eduardo E. Bustamante PhD, Catherine L. Davis PhD & Russell R. Pate PhD

  3. University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA

    Dawn K. Wilson PhD

Authors
  1. Joanna Buscemi PhD
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  2. Angela Kong PhD
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  3. Marian L. Fitzgibbon PhD
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  4. Eduardo E. Bustamante PhD
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  5. Catherine L. Davis PhD
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  6. Russell R. Pate PhD
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  7. Dawn K. Wilson PhD
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Consortia

On behalf of the Society of Behavioral Medicine Health Policy Committee

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joanna Buscemi PhD.

Additional information

Implications

Practice: Schools should implement regular classroom physical activity breaks, physically active classroom lessons, increased physical activity in physical education classes, and teacher-led active recess.

Policy: SBM proposes that schools provide children with opportunities to obtain the recommended 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during school hours. Elementary schools are encouraged to work with the school districts or state education departments to mandate and reward minimum physical activity time during school and in physical education classes.

Research: Research is needed to evaluate what kinds of programs are effective for school-aged children to produce meaningful improvements in academic achievement outcomes.

The Society of Behavioral Medicine supports physical activity promotion among all age groups but focuses this position statement specifically on elementary schoolchildren, given the preponderance of the evidence in this group and differing physical activity recommendations across the lifespan.

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Buscemi, J., Kong, A., Fitzgibbon, M.L. et al. Society of Behavioral Medicine position statement: elementary school-based physical activity supports academic achievement. Behav. Med. Pract. Policy Res. 4, 436–438 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13142-014-0279-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13142-014-0279-7

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