An Overview on the Associations between Health Behaviors and Brain Health in Children and Adolescents with Special Reference to Diet Quality

Unhealthy diet has been associated with overweight, obesity, increased cardiometabolic risk, and recently, to impaired cognition and academic performance. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the associations between health behaviors and cognition and academic achievement in children...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2020-02, Vol.17 (3), p.953
Main Authors: Naveed, Sehrish, Lakka, Timo, Haapala, Eero A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic Performance
Adolescent
Brain - growth & development
Carbonated Beverages
Child
Cognition
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diet
Exercise
Fast Foods
Fruit
Health Behavior
Humans
Life Style
Obesity
Review
Sedentary Behavior
Sleep
Vegetables
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Summary:Unhealthy diet has been associated with overweight, obesity, increased cardiometabolic risk, and recently, to impaired cognition and academic performance. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the associations between health behaviors and cognition and academic achievement in children and adolescents under 18 years of age with a special reference to diet quality. Dietary patterns with a low consumption of fish, fruits, and vegetables, and high in fast food, sausages, and soft drinks have been linked to poor cognition and academic achievement. The studies on the associations between the high intake of saturated fat and red meat and low intake of fiber and high-fiber grain products with cognition are limited. The available evidence and physiological mechanisms suggest that diet may have direct, indirect, and synergistic effects on brain and cognition with physical activity, sedentary behaviors, cardiometabolic health, and sleep, but the associations have been modest. Therefore, integrating a healthy diet, physically active lifestyle, and adequate sleep may provide optimal circumstances for brain development and learning. We conclude that most of the existing literature is contained in cross-sectional studies, which therefore highlights the need for longitudinal and intervention studies on the effects of diet, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep on cognition and academic performance.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph17030953