They identify 125 published studies which have addressed the issue. Fifty-three of the papers were published in the last 5 years and, in
general, are of higher quality than earlier publications but results continue to be inconsistent. The authors demonstrate that the vast majority of papers report positive associations between PA and cognition, particularly executive functions and academic achievement. However, they acknowledge that although there is little evidence to suggest a negative relationship between PA and academic ability the results may be prone to reporting bias. It is concluded that it is difficult to make a compelling case for a strong association between PA and academic achievement and more research using rigorous Erastin research designs is required. If this Special Issue stimulates further interest in the study of the exercising child and adolescent, encourages doctors and scientists to initiate research programmes in paediatric exercise science and medicine, and thereby contributes to the promotion of young people’s health and well-being it will have served its purpose. “
“In studies of young people’s health and well-being the terms physical activity (PA) and physical fitness are often used interchangeably but they are not synonymous. PA consists of behaviors which contribute to total energy expenditure and involve bodily movements produced by skeletal muscles. In
the context of young people’s IOX1 health and well-being habitual PA (HPA) is the behavior of prime
interest. HPA has been defined as, “usual physical activity carried out in normal daily life in every domain and any dimension”.1 Physical fitness is a complex phenomenon which can be described in terms of its health-related and skill-related components. Health-related fitness includes discrete physiological attributes such as aerobic fitness (AF), muscle strength, muscle power, and flexibility. All of these attributes are important in the promotion of health but it is AF which is most frequently associated with health and well-being during youth. AF depends on the pulmonary, cardiovascular, and haematological components of oxygen delivery and the oxidative mechanisms of exercising muscles. It has been defined as, “the ability to deliver oxygen to the muscles and to utilise it to generate energy to support muscle activity many during exercise”.2 The measurement and interpretation of HPA3 and AF4 during growth and maturation have been extensively reviewed elsewhere and these aspects will therefore only be summarised herein. This paper will analyse current levels and secular changes in HPA and AF in relation to youth health and well-being and examine the evidence relating HPA to AF during childhood and adolescence. Studies for review were located through computer searches of Medline, SPORT Discus and personal databases supplemented with an extensive search of bibliographies of accessed studies.