Regular three meals a day, adequate sleep, and limited TV time improve students' academic performance, Spanish researchers have found, according to infohub.kz.
The Spanish researchers published their findings in the journal Scientific Reports. The study analyzed data from 974 eighth-graders at 22 schools in Catalonia. The authors assessed the impact of healthy habits on adolescents' performance in languages and mathematics, controlling for socioeconomic status, gender, ethnicity, and neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
They found that students who followed at least four or five healthy recommendations achieved higher grades. Eating three meals a day was linked to better performance in native and foreign languages. Adhering to a Mediterranean diet and sleeping at least eight hours per night correlated with higher math scores. Limiting TV viewing to two hours daily also had a positive effect on grades.
Interestingly, physical activity showed no independent association with academic performance. The authors emphasize that a comprehensive approach to lifestyle significantly boosts the chances of academic success.