Fitbits, field-tests, and grades: The effects of a healthy and physically active lifestyle on the academic performance of first year college students

Abstract

A growing number of studies have been performed regarding the positive effect of physical activity on academic performance. Many of these studies were conducted on children and show that students who are less physically active obtain lower grades and that physical activity interventions can be effective in improving academic achievement, academic behaviour, and cognitive skills and attitudes. The purpose of this study is to investigate if and how the positive effects of physical activity on academic performance found for children extend into a university setting. We collected Fitbit heart rate and physical activity data, 1-mile field test times, and the results of a healthy lifestyle survey from 581 first-semester freshmen enrolled at Oral Roberts University and investigated the effect they had on academic performance as measured by semester grade point averages. We found positive and significant correlations between Fitbit step counts, 1-mile field test times, lifestyle survey scores and academic performance even when controlling for gender. These findings highlight the importance for students of maintaining a physically active and healthy lifestyle when they enter university.

Keywords:

• fitbit
• exercise
• healthy lifestyle
• academic performance
• university students

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the contributions of both Jon Anderson and Lee Tarrant without whom this paper would not exist. We would like to thank Jon Anderson, ORU IT, for his role in porting the Fitbit activity data from Fitbit services into our course management system and Lee Tarrant, ORU Institutional Research, for aggregating, de-identifying, and securing the data for us to analyse. We would also like to recognise and thank the Health, Leisure and Sport Science faculty who teach Introduction to Whole Person Education for their dedication and commitment to excellence in academics and their willingness to adapt and use new technologies to record physical fitness data.