Under-nutrition affects a child’s performance
Mar 24, 2009
A child cannot study on an empty stomach. Research reveals that under-nutrition can affect a child’s school performance, behaviour and cognitive development.
A child cannot study on an empty stomach. Research reveals that under-nutrition can affect a child’s school performance, behaviour and cognitive development.
If a child misses a meal, this can lead to fatigue and could diminish their attention span. “While the body can adjust to decreased blood sugar levels, the brain struggles to perform with a minimal supply of nutrients,†the WFP study reveals.
Nutritionists also say children aged 10 and below need to eat every four to six hours to maintain a blood sugar concentration that is high enough to support the brain and nervous system. Experts say chronic poor nutrition may cause more serious learning problems for children.
Dr Matthew Jukes, a developmental psychologist at Oxford University, says hunger affects children badly that they develop a short memory span and have difficulty concentrating and performing complex tasks, even later in life.
Under-fed children are likely to enroll late in school as well as perform poorly in class. For instance, in just a year, the number of pupils who passed in Division One in last year’s Primary Leaving Examinations reduced by half to 3.7%, from 7.6% the previous year.
“Children who get meals attend classes more regularly and are less likely to drop out compared to those who are not,†says the 2008 Education for All global Monitoring Report.
If a child misses a meal, this can lead to fatigue and could diminish their attention span. “While the body can adjust to decreased blood sugar levels, the brain struggles to perform with a minimal supply of nutrients,†the WFP study reveals.
Nutritionists also say children aged 10 and below need to eat every four to six hours to maintain a blood sugar concentration that is high enough to support the brain and nervous system. Experts say chronic poor nutrition may cause more serious learning problems for children.
Dr Matthew Jukes, a developmental psychologist at Oxford University, says hunger affects children badly that they develop a short memory span and have difficulty concentrating and performing complex tasks, even later in life.
Under-fed children are likely to enroll late in school as well as perform poorly in class. For instance, in just a year, the number of pupils who passed in Division One in last year’s Primary Leaving Examinations reduced by half to 3.7%, from 7.6% the previous year.
“Children who get meals attend classes more regularly and are less likely to drop out compared to those who are not,†says the 2008 Education for All global Monitoring Report.