German researchers recently published a study in the Journal of Public Health, showing a connection between eating breakfast and academic performance of schoolchildren.The researchers analyzed the academic performance of nearly 1,2000 students between the ages of 8 and 18. Specifically, they focused on cognitive domain information processing (creating knowledge, thinking, etc), memory, and concentration. They also tracked breakfast habits.
They discovered a few interesting things. First, as children age, they’re less likely to eat breakfast at home.
Second, they found that academic performance increased in improvement as the age group increased. In other words, because the frequency of children eating breakfast at home decreased as children aged, as they reintroduced eating breakfast at home, academic performance improved in relation to how much the frequency of eating at home increased.
Finally, eating breakfast at school was also connected to increased academic performance. However the increase wasn’t as pronounced as it was for those who ate breakfast at home.
This study joins a growing body of research showing a strong connection between nutrition and mental health. Here at Truehope, we’ve been promoting nutrition as mental health treatment for over 20 years.