Kantomaa, M., Stamatakis, E., Kankaanpää, A., Kaakinen, M., Rodriguez, A., Taanila, A., . . . Tammelin, T. (2013). Physical activity and obesity mediate the association between childhood motor function and adolescents' academic achievement. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 110(5), 1917-1922. Retrieved May 16, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/41992140

Physical Activity and Obesity Mediate the Association Between Childhood Motor Function and Adolescents' Academic Achievement

Obesity and physical inactivity have become a global epidemic affecting both adults and, increasingly, children and adolescents. Among young people this trend has developmental implications that unfold over time: it is associated with reduced cognitive function during childhood and lower academic achievement at later school age.

The Global Epidemic of Obesity and Physical Inactivity

University of Connecticut

Physical development is the sense of students’ health needs related to their age or maturity and the foundation of many academic tasks. 

* For Example:
- Successfully manipulate a pencil
- How long they can sit still without discomfort

Physical Development in Students

Trends in Height and Weight

a) Puberty in early adolescence, usually starting around the ages of 10 or 11, is where most children experience sexual attraction to others that affect social life both in school and out

b) Puberty accentuates gender role differences for at least some teenagers

 For example:
- Some girls who excelled at math or science in elementary school may 
fear that these subjects would limit their attractiveness as girls
- Some boys may start playing sports to affirm their masculinity 
- Some boys and girls who once worked together successfully on class projects may no longer feel comfortable doing so

Puberty and Its Effects on Students

- Students’ fundamental motor skills are already developing when they begin kindergarten (age of five) but not perfectly.
- Even if physical skills are not a special focus of a classroom teacher, it's important to students themselves.

* For example, 
- students who are clumsy are aware of the fact that it could potentially
negatively effect respect from their peers.
- self-consciousness and poor self-esteem can develop for a child who is clumsy for long-term effect

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