Teens Who Eat More Ultra-Processed Foods Score Lower in School

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by News-Medical.

In a recent study published in Nutrients, researchers explored whether the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) could influence academic performance during adolescence, a time known to be critical for growth and development.

Their findings indicate that adolescents who consume more UPFs show poorer academic performance based on multiple indicators, highlighting the importance of improving diets to strengthen educational outcomes.

Previous research suggests that young individuals who consistently eat breakfast, consume less energy-dense food, and follow better diets show better academic performance. Other studies have found a positive association between Mediterranean diet adherence and educational grades.

Poor diets, particularly those with high levels of UPF intake, are known to have adverse impacts on human health. Still, their consumption has increased rapidly around the world because they are palatable, convenient, and long-lasting.

Researchers utilized existing data from a survey that included Spanish adolescents between 12 and 17 and took place in 2021 and 2022. Overall, 788 individuals were included in the final sample, of whom 44.7% were boys, and their parents and guardians provided written consent.

The participants filled out food frequency questionnaires, which included 12 food groups and 45 individual food items. These foods were classified into four levels of processing, namely UPFs, processed foods, products with processed culinary ingredients, and minimally processed or unprocessed foods.

Their academic performance was assessed using their school records, with a focus on English, mathematics, and language evaluations, as well as overall grade point averages (GPA).

The results found there was a significant negative association between UPF intake and academic performance across all four indicators. The adolescents who consumed the most UPFs showed the poorest academic performance, while those who consumed the least UPFs performed best, indicating that there is a dose-response relationship.

This study adds to existing evidence that UPFs may lead to worse academic outcomes for adolescents. The observed relationship could be due to nutritional imbalances caused by a UPF-rich diet, which is high in artificial additives, added sugars, and saturated fats but lacks essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids needed for brain development and cognitive function.

Source: News-Medical
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250204/Teens-who-eat-more-ultra-processed-foods-score-lower-in-school.aspx