Research: Junk Food Affects Academic Results

Tennessee’s Vanderbilt University researchers surveyed over 5 thousand 10 to 11 year-olds and found that those who ate fast food for every meal received almost 20% lower academic points than healthy eaters, World Research Foundation reported.

A hands-on study to once again prove bad affects of junk food involved 5000 school students. Pupils were administered tests in literacy and mathematics, researchers found a direct correlation between the amount of sugar and high fat foods that they students stated they consumes and their performance on the tests.

Students who said that they ate “junk food” 4 to 6 times each week scored an average of 6.96 points lower in reading, while the pupils who stated that they ate “junk food” daily received 16.07 points below average.

The research supports the opinions of food experts that a healthier diet can improve a child’s various aspects that can affect a child’s education, such as concentration, attention span, learning ability, brain function and even behavior.

Direct link between brain activity and junk food has been researched before. According to a study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, toddlers who eat a diet high in processed foods and sugars may have a slightly lower IQ later in life.

Vanderbilt University has conducted several researches on effects on junk food. One of them from 9 years back was opposed to vending machines serving soft drinks, potato chips and cookies. Between 2006 and 2010, a study found, about half of the schools had vending machines, stores and cafeterias that offered unhealthy foods.

Because vending machines have been an extra income for schools they are still a big part of schools equipment. Just this year government has begun reducing childhood obesity by offering healthy snacks in vending machines.