Body Mass Index and Academic Performance of Grade 12 Students, TMCSHS, SY 2017-2018

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Adolescents, where senior high school students belong, are vulnerable to issues related to Body Mass Index (BMI) and they are at risk for suffering underweight and obesity's negative effects like poor academic performance. Investigating school achievements for the underweight and overweight students is important and may provide valuable insight into constructive changes required for a responsive school environment. This research will also ease the unscientific belief that the overweight and underweight students would not do well in the academic program in school compared to the normal weight students.

METHODS

A cross sectional study design was used while convenient and random sampling of 174 students from the 700 Grade 12 enrollees of Trece Martires City Senior High School was applied for the collection of the data. Anthropometric measurements were also conducted while learning achievement was determined from their general average on the first semester of school year 2017-2018.

RESULTS

Statistically, using the Chi-Squared Computation wherein 5.10 < 23.21, Body Mass Index has no significant relationship with the academic performance of the senior high school students. Therefore, for 174 students, academic performance does not depend on Body Mass Index of the students.

DISCUSSIONS

The study did not find significant relationship between BMI and academic performance for the students in TMCSHS. The results demonstrated the need for further studies among students from other levels such as elementary, junior and college for comparison of results. The data also suggest future research in other anthropometric variables and other factors that could be associated with the academic performance of the students.