An Overview on the Associations between Health Behaviors and Brain Health in Children and Adolescents with Special Reference to Diet Quality

Abstract
Unhealthy diet has been associated with overweight, obesity, increased cardiometabolic risk, and recently, to impaired cognition and academic performance. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the associations between health behaviors and cognition and academic achievement in children and adolescents under 18 years of age with a special reference to diet quality. Dietary patterns with a low consumption of fish, fruits, and vegetables, and high in fast food, sausages, and soft drinks have been linked to poor cognition and academic achievement. The studies on the associations between the high intake of saturated fat and red meat and low intake of fiber and high-fiber grain products with cognition are limited. The available evidence and physiological mechanisms suggest that diet may have direct, indirect, and synergistic effects on brain and cognition with physical activity, sedentary behaviors, cardiometabolic health, and sleep, but the associations have been modest. Therefore, integrating a healthy diet, physically active lifestyle, and adequate sleep may provide optimal circumstances for brain development and learning. We conclude that most of the existing literature is contained in cross-sectional studies, which therefore highlights the need for longitudinal and intervention studies on the effects of diet, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep on cognition and academic performance.
Main Authors
Format
Articles Review article
Published
2020
Series
Subjects
Publication in research information system
Publisher
MDPI
The permanent address of the publication
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-202002062012Use this for linking
Review status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
1661-7827
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17030953
Language
English
Published in
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Citation
  • Naveed, S., Lakka, T., & Haapala, E. A. (2020). An Overview on the Associations between Health Behaviors and Brain Health in Children and Adolescents with Special Reference to Diet Quality. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(3), Article 953. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17030953
License
CC BY 4.0Open Access
Additional information about funding
A part of this work was financially supported by the Fazer Group.
Copyright© 2020 by the authors

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