The Relationship between the Nutritional Status of School-Age Children and Their Academic Achievement and Physical Fitness Levels

ABSTRACT

Physical fitness and academic achievement in schoolchildren can be supported by good nutrition. Today, however, the nutritional status of school-age children, especially in Indonesia, is concerning. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between the nutritional status of school-age children and their academic achievement and physical fitness levels. This study used a cross-sectional method; the sample was school-age children in Banjar, Pandeglang. The respondents were 137 randomly selected students in the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. A chi-square test was used to identify the relationship between nutritional status and physical fitness level and, also, nutritional status and academic achievement. The results showed that the majority of participants had poor fitness levels (86.9%), and 46% had low academic achievement. However, the nutritional status of the majority of the participants was normal (78.8%). The analysis of the results found no significant relationship between nutritional status and physical fitness (p = 0.787 > a = 0.05). However, there was a significant relationship between nutritional status and children’s academic achievement (p = 0.03 < a = 0.05). Therefore, schools could provide health education about balanced nutrition to support students’ academic achievement.

KEYWORDS:

• Nutritional status
• physical fitness
• academic achievement

Acknowledgments

The authors extend their gratitude to all those who have supported this research, especially the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DRPM) UI, which provided funding, and the public elementary school students in Pandeglang Regency who participated in the study.

Additional information

Funding

This work has been supported by Hibbah PITTA 2018 and funded by DRPM Universitas Indonesia. [No. 1858/UN2.R3.1/HKP.05.00/2018].