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Objective:

While being overweight or obese in adolescence may have detrimental effects on academic attainment, the evidence base is limited by reliance on cross-sectional studies with small sample sizes, failure to take account of confounders and lack of consideration of potential mediators. The present study aimed to address these limitations and examine longitudinal associations between obesity in adolescence and academic attainment.

Design:

Associations between weight status at 11 years old and academic attainment assessed by national tests at 11, 13 and 16 years were examined in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Healthy weight was defined as body mass index (BMI) Z-score< 1.04; overweight as BMI Z-score 1.04–1.63; obesity as BMI Z-score⩾ 1.64.

Participants:

Data from 5966 participants with objectively measured weight status were examined: 71.4% were healthy weight (1935 …