Children
given more fast food meals will grow up to have a lower IQ than those
regularly …
Children given more fast food meals
will grow up to have a lower IQ than those regularly given freshly-cooked
meals, a study has revealed.
According to new research, childhood
nutrition has long lasting effects on IQ, even after previous intelligence and
socio-economic status are taken into account.
The study at Goldsmiths, University
of London, examined whether the type of children's daily main meal had an
impact on their cognitive ability and growth.
The results were based on a sample
of 4,000 Scottish children aged three to five and found parents of higher
socio-economic status reported to give their children meals prepared with fresh
ingredients more often, which positively affected their IQ.
Lower socio-economic status was
linked to more children having fast food, which led to lower intelligence.
Dr Sophie von Stumm, from the department
of psychology at Goldsmiths, said: "It's common-sense that the type of
food we eat will affect brain development, but previous research has only
looked at the effects of specific food groups on children's IQ rather than at
generic types of meals.
"This research will go some way
to providing hard evidence to support the various high-profile campaigns aimed
at reducing the amount of fast food consumed by children in the UK."
Dr von Stumm said the findings
highlighted that differences in children's meals were also a social problem.
She said: "Mothers and fathers
from less privileged backgrounds often have less time to prepare a freshly
cooked meal from scratch for their children.
"These children score lower on
intelligence tests and often struggle in school. Schools in less privileged
areas must do even more to balance children's diet, so that they can achieve
their cognitive potential."
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