Reasoning skills are crucial skills in learning, academic performance, and on a regular basis problem-solving. In accordance with a recent study conducted on the University of Eastern Finland, improved overall weight-reduction plan quality and reduced consumption of pork, in addition to increased time spent in reading and organised sports enhanced reasoning skills amongst children over the primary two school years.

Children with healthier eating habits showed greater cognitive development than other children. Specifically, higher overall weight-reduction plan quality, lower pork consumption, and better low-fat dairy product intake were linked to higher reasoning skills.”

Sehrish Naveed, Doctoral Researcher, University of Eastern Finland

Children who spent more time in reading and organised sports showed higher reasoning skills than their peers. However, excessive time spent on a pc and unsupervised leisure-time physical activity were related to poorer reasoning skills. Screen time, energetic school transportation, recess physical activity, and physical activity intensity weren’t related to reasoning skills.

Over half of the kids participated in a two-year family-based and individualized weight-reduction plan and physical activity intervention. Nonetheless, the intervention didn’t impact reasoning skills, with the kids within the intervention and control groups exhibiting similar cognitive development.

“Within the lives of growing children, weight-reduction plan and physical activity intervention is only one factor influencing lifestyle and reasoning skills. Based on our study, investing in a healthy weight-reduction plan and inspiring children to read are helpful for the event of reasoning skills amongst children. Moreover, engaging in organised sports appears to support reasoning skills”, Dr Eero Haapala points out.

Published within the esteemed Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, the outcomes of this study are based on data from the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) study. This sub-study examined the results of a two-year weight-reduction plan and physical activity intervention on cognition amongst 397 Finnish elementary school children. The associations of dietary aspects, physical activity, and sedentary behavior with cognition over two years were also studied. The analyses considered parental education and income in addition to children’s body fat percentage and maturity level.

Source:

University of Eastern Finland (UEF Viestintä)

Journal reference:

Naveed, S., et al. (2023) Effects of 2-year dietary and physical activity intervention on cognition in children—a nonrandomized controlled trial. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. doi.org/10.1111/sms.14464.