The Times Educational Supplement: A study conducted by Vanderbilt University has found a correlation between a diet high in fast food and lower academic test scores. The study examined the impact of a fast-food diet on the schoolwork of more than 5,500 10 and 11 year olds. The study found no correlation between students' fast food consumption and their weight, or between their parents' income and the amount of fast food they ate.
"It is possible that the types of food served at fast-food restaurants cause cognitive difficulties that result in lower test scores," said Kerri Tobin, who conducted the study. "Alternatively, it is possible that the propensity to eat fast food is correlated with unobserved characteristics, like parental involvement in homework, which would also affect test scores."
