Not Exactly Brain Food
Posted on August 15, 2008
A study done by University of London researchers and published in the latest edition of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that preschool-aged children who eat more junk food are more likely to be slower learners than those who eat a lot of junk food at a later age.
14,000 children were studied and those who ate more foods such as potato chips, lollipops, and take-out food at age 3 were more likely to be behind the other children who didn’t eat as much junk food at that age.
This is interesting. So junk food is bad, even for kids? Guess so. Obviously the children are not to blame here. 3-year-olds can’t choose whether to eat potato chips instead of apple slices. Someone else is putting the food in front of them.
Here’s what the researchers had to say: “This research highlights the importance of diet before entry into formal education for later school attainment and calls for a concerted effort between schools, families, government departments and other agencies to improve the nutritional intake of children.”
I think the primary responsibility falls onto the family’s shoulders. Parents should be concerned with not only the implications of this study, but also with teaching their children good eating habits from a young age. I don’t think kids should never have “treats,” but that should be the exception, not the norm.
Source here.
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Interesting. I wonder if the correlation is there because the parents who feed their children healthier food interact with their kids in a productive way more or if it’s just the food. I wouldn’t be surprised either way.
cathy’s last blog post..Surprising HFCS food of the week - or Gatorade double talk
That is an interesting thought. Thanks cathy.