How Lifestyle Factors Affect Cognitive and Executive Function and the Ability to Learn in Children

Abstract

In today’s research environment, children’s diet, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors are commonly studied in the context of health, independent of their effect on cognition and learning. Moreover, there is little overlap between the two literatures, although it is reasonable to expect that the lifestyle factors explored in the health-focused research are intertwined with cognition and learning processes. This thematic review provides an overview of knowledge connecting the selected lifestyle factors of diet, physical activity, and sleep hygiene to children’s cognition and learning. Research from studies of diet and nutrition, physical activity and fitness, sleep, and broader influences of cultural and socioeconomic factors related to health and learning, were summarized to offer examples of research that integrate lifestyle factors and cognition with learning. The literature review demonstrates that the associations and causal relationships between these factors are vastly understudied. As a result, current knowledge on predictors of optimal cognition and learning is incomplete, and likely lacks understanding of many critical facts and relationships, their interactions, and the nature of their relationships, such as there being mediating or confounding factors that could provide important knowledge to increase the efficacy of learning-focused interventions. This review provides information focused on studies in children. Although basic research in cells or animal studies are available and indicate a number of possible physiological pathways, inclusion of those data would distract from the fact that there is a significant gap in knowledge on lifestyle factors and optimal learning in children. In a climate where childcare and school feeding policies are continuously discussed, this thematic review aims to provide an impulse for discussion and a call for more holistic approaches to support child development.

Strawberries and Cream: The Relationship Between Food Rejection and Thematic Knowledge of Food in Young Children

“…A lack of dietary variety in childhood leads to enduring impacts on both physical and cognitive health (Evans et al, 2018 ). Consequently, establishing healthy dietary habits in childhood is crucial in preventing long-term repercussions (Jirout et al, 2019 ). Food rejection, namely food neophobia and pickiness, has been determined as a central psychological driver in reduced dietary variety in young children (Carruth et al, 2004 ; Levene and Williams, 2017 ).…”

The Effect of Eating Habits’ Quality on Scholastic Performance in Turkish Adolescents

“…The eighth-grade year participants' data, were analyzed, yielding a 9720 data point sample size. Researchers used linear regression analyses to assess the relationship among nutrition, physical activity, and academic achievement, while controlling for socioeconomic status, age, and sex [25,26]. In Norway, researchers demonstrated that regular meal pattern, healthy food consumption and physical activity were all associated with increased odds of high academic achievement in Norwegian adolescents.…”

“…On the contrary, consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages, was associated with decreased odds of high academic achievement [27]. Researchers in the US concluded that non-active, unhealthy nutrition, participants scored consistently lower for reading, math, and science standardized tests when compared to those classified as active, healthy nutrition regardless of sex [25,26]. Furthermore, research in Australia focusing on secondary analysis to examine associations between a range of dietary behaviors and children s academic achievement, revealed that dietary behaviors are associated with higher academic achievement [28].…”

Brain Gym Optimizing Concentration on Elementary Students

“…This decrease in physical activity may also have an impact on student concentration. The systematic review article written by Jirout et al (2019) academic functions. The article also mentions that several studies have found that aerobic fitness is closely related to improving cognitive and learning abilities in children (Jirout et al, 2019).…”

“…The systematic review article written by Jirout et al (2019) academic functions. The article also mentions that several studies have found that aerobic fitness is closely related to improving cognitive and learning abilities in children (Jirout et al, 2019). (A parenting educator in Australia also stated that learning breaks filled with exercise or exercise can increase concentration in children (Grose,2009).…”