The Association between Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and High-Energy Diets and Academic Performance in Junior School Students

A central role of nutrition in cognitive function among primary school children: a cross-sectional analysis

BACKGROUND

Childhood overweight and obesity have implications that extend beyond physical health. Despite evidence linking obesity to poorer cognition, the combined effects of weight status and dietary habits on cognitive function in children remain insufficiently studied. This study took a comprehensive approach investigating effects of weight status on cognition, incorporating socio-economic factors, parental anthropometrics, and detailed nutrition assessments in primary school children.

METHODS

Anthropometric measurements, cognitive testing and short interviews were performed in schools from October 2021 until July 2022 in the Rhein-Neckar region, Germany. Cognitive testing included the distractibility and flexibility modules of the PSYTEST KiTap battery, alongside a self-designed short-term memory assessment. Parents were asked to provide information on physical activity, socioeconomic status (SES) and nutrition (3-day food diary and a questionnaire). Pearson's correlations were used for normally distributed continuous data, and Spearman's correlations for nonparametric data Pearson's or Spearman's correlation coefficients were calculated based on data distribution.

RESULTS

A total of 256 children with a mean age of 8.0 years participated in the study. According to German growth reference tables, 16% were underweight, 75% normal weight, 5% overweight and 5% obese. Cognitive testing resulted in an average age- and sex adjusted performance. No significant correlations were found between any of the anthropometric variables collected and the cognitive domains studied. At the same time, cognition was associated with nutrition, physical activity and SES with strongest associations between reaction time in the flexibility task and fat consumption (R -0.35, p < 0.001), total kilocalories (R -0.30, p < 0.001) and protein (R -0.30, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The cognitive domains studied are not associated with anthropometric variables in primary school children. Nutrition appears to have strongest associations with cognition followed by other factors such as physical activity and SES. This study underlines the importance of nutrition for cognitive function and emphasizes the need to include nutrition in studies on cognitive performance and body weight status in schoolchildren. The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov on September 21st 2021 under the registration number NCT05077059.

Associations between sugar-sweetened beverages consumption, duration of physical exercise, and depressive symptoms among Tibetan university students at high altitude

Background

Depressive symptoms have become a public health issue of common concern in countries all over the world, and have many negative impacts on university students' study and life. Depressive symptoms are influenced by many factors, including sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) consumption and duration of physical activity. However, no study has been conducted on the association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, duration of physical exercise, and depressive symptoms among Tibetan university students at high altitudes.

Methods

In this study, a self-assessment survey of SSBs consumption, duration of physical exercise, and depressive symptoms was conducted on 6,259 (2,745 boys, 43.86%) Tibetan university students aged 19-22 years in Lhasa and Ganzi areas, China, using stratified whole population sampling. The associations were also analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, binary logistic regression analysis, and ordered logistic regression analysis in the generalised linear model.

Results

The proportions of mild depression symptoms, moderate depression symptoms, and major depressive symptoms among Tibetan boys university students in high-altitude areas of China were 18.0, 22.9, and 1.5%, respectively; the proportions of girls students were 20.1, 21.9, and 1.5%, respectively, 1.5%, and the differences in the detection rates of depressive symptoms between sex were statistically significant (χ 2 value = 14.253, p < 0.01). Ordered logistic regression analyses showed that using duration of physical exercise >60 min/d and SSBs ≤1 times/week as the reference group, the duration of physical exercise <30 min/d and SSBs ≥5 times/week groups had the highest risk of developing depressive symptoms was the highest risk (OR = 6.98, 95% CI: 5.05-9.65; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study confirmed that there was a positive association between SSBs consumption and depressive symptoms and a negative association between the duration of physical exercise and depressive symptoms among Tibetan university students at high altitudes in China. In the future, SSBs consumption should be effectively controlled and the duration of physical exercise should be increased to reduce the occurrence of depressive symptoms and promote the physical and mental health of Tibetan university students in high-altitude areas.

Adolescents with a Favorable Mediterranean-Style-Based Pattern Show Higher Cognitive and Academic Achievement: A Cluster Analysis-The Cogni-Action Project

A Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) has emerged as a crucial dietary choice, not only in attenuating various adolescents' metabolic health issues but it has also been associated with improved cognitive and academic achievement. However, few studies have established patterns of food consumption linked to both cognitive and academic achievement in adolescents living in a developing country with non-Mediterranean-based food. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1296 Chilean adolescents (50% girls) aged 10-14 years. The MedDiet Quality Index was used to assess adherence to the MedDiet in children and adolescents. Through cluster analysis, four distinct dietary patterns were identified: Western diet (WD = 4.3%); low fruit and vegetables, high-sugar diet (LFV-HSD = 28.2%); low fruit and vegetables, low-sugar diet (LFV-LSD = 42.2%); and the MedDiet (25.3%). A mixed-model analysis was conducted to compare these clusters and their relationships with cognitive and academic achievements. Principal component analysis was performed to identify four primary cognitive domains: working memory, cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control, and fluid reasoning. Academic achievement was determined with five school subjects (Language, English, Mathematics, Science, and History) and included the Academic-PISA score derived from the mean scores in Language, Mathematics, and Science. Results: A marked difference was observed between the four clusters, which was mainly related to the consumption of sugar, ultra-processed foods, fruits, and vegetables. According to cognitive performance, the MedDiet group showed higher performance across all domains than the LFV-HSD, LFV-LSD, and WD groups. Regarding academic achievement, the WD underperformed in all analyses compared to the other groups, while the MedDiet was the unique profile that achieved a positive difference in all academic subjects compared to the WD and LFV-HSD groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that higher adherence to Mediterranean-style-based patterns and better food quality choices are associated with improved cognitive and academic achievements.