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Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders

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Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research article

Do overweight students have lower academic performance than their classmates? A pilot cross sectional study in a middle school in Tehran

Authors: Ramin Heshmat, Fatemeh Ardeshir Larijani, Amir Pourabbasi, Ata Pourabbasi

Published in: Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders | Issue 1/2014

Abstract

Background

Recently the special attention is given to psychological aspects of childhood obesity in overweight and obese children. The present pilot study aims to investigate the association of obesity and lipid profile with school performance among Iranian students.

Methods

69 middle school male students between the ages of 12 to 14 in 2009–2010 were studied. BMI was considered as the obesity index. The students’ Grade Point Average (GPA) along with their scores in math, geometry, calculus, English and absent rate were obtained as academic performance. Serum lipid profile was also assessed by a uniform method.

Results

The GPA score, math and geometry scores were lower in overweight students in comparison with control group. The study of serum lipid profile indices showed no significant statistical association between serum lipid profile and school performance.

Conclusions

Our results support previous findings pointing out the negative effects of obesity on students’ school performance.

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Title: Do overweight students have lower academic performance than their classmates? A pilot cross sectional study in a middle school in Tehran
Authors: Ramin Heshmat
Fatemeh Ardeshir Larijani
Amir Pourabbasi
Ata Pourabbasi
Publication date: 01-12-2014
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 2251-6581
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40200-014-0087-0

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Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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