**Author details**

that the aerobic capacity confers the greatest effect on academic achievement [47]. There is strong evidence that supports the positive association between both cardiorespiratory fitness and physical fitness (classified into clusters) with academic achievement, whereas the relationship between strength and flexibility remains unclear [59]. Regarding intensity, while there are some researches that relate the practice of moderate physical activity with positive academic benefits, the practice of vigorous and moderate-to-vigorous levels of physical activity has been

On the other hand, the frequency is a key issue when controlling for physical activity and academic performance. The effect of physical activity has been proved to report significantly higher benefits when provided three and two times per week (i.e., better improvements with a frequency of three times per week). Moreover, it has been identified a positive correlation between the improvement of academic performances and attending three or more physical education classes per week was positively correlated with improved academic school performances [96]. Accordingly, we highly recommend the practice of aerobic fitness and motor skills training, with a minimum intensity of moderate-to-vigorous and with a frequency of 3 days per week, as the optimal physical activity plan for enhancing academic achievement. On the other hand, sleep hygiene programs can be implemented to improve the students' health and the effect of sleep quality on the academic performance. The educational stakeholders should implement the sleep hygiene programs focused on the importance of sleep habits and their relationships with academic performance [15, 30, 32, 40]. To do so, the families should establish balanced schedules that combine academic and leisure activities; the children/adolescents should establish a sleep pattern, going to bed early avoiding TV or leisure activities during the week nights and educators and pediatrics should give tips and feedbacks (e.g., avoid afternoon naps, restrict caffeine, do not go to bed immediately after high demanding exercise and sleep without excessive noise and light) for quality sleep advices with annual health examinations [15, 30, 32]. The implementation of these sleep programs would do more than be informative on the importance of sleep hygiene on health and academic performance [40]. It is necessary to teach schoolchildren to sleep well and promote a long-term perspective of the benefits of physical exercise. Therefore, schools should consider their schedules to adjust them to the moments of the day where greater academic and physical performance is possible [82]. Summarizing, the health-promoting school literature shows its potential to improve students' development, both academically and health related. The current chapter adds up to this effort by elaborating on the specific relations of sleep and exercise habits on the academic performance. There is another behavior that significantly affects the adolescents' psychosocial and academic development, such as bullying and compulsive internet use, and not just more traditional healthy topics with strong ties to physical health, such as smoking or alcohol use.

Unfortunately, much is still unknown about the effects that improving health behaviors might have on students' school performances. Indeed, it was justified the need for further research on this topic. Research on mechanisms behind the associations between these health behaviors and school performance is scarce and not conclusive. Therefore, further studies on

the explanatory factors are required.

found to provide greater positive effects on the academic achievement [14].

226 Health and Academic Achievement

Luis M. Ruiz-Pérez\*, Miguel A. Gómez-Ruano and José A. Navia-Manzano

\*Address all correspondence to: luismiguel.ruiz@upm.es

Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences (INEF), Technical University of Madrid, Spain
