Breakfast consumption shows a mainly positive effect on on-task behavior in the classroom in children¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · review r3 · q2
Currency · newest study 2013 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Seven of eleven studies using direct classroom observation demonstrated a positive effect of breakfast on on-task behavior, in well-nourished, undernourished, and low SES children. → Adolphus 2013

Evidence¶

Adolphus 2013¶

Adolphus, K., Lawton, C. L., and Dye, L. (2013). The effects of breakfast on behavior and academic performance in children and adolescents. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00425

q2 · i? · review · r3

Narrative synthesis of 11 studies using direct classroom observation measures. The review reports that "Seven of the eleven studies demonstrated a positive effect of breakfast on on-task behavior," across well-nourished, undernourished, and low SES samples; most studies had small samples of roughly 10–30 children.

"Although there are inconsistent findings, the evidence indicated a mainly positive effect of breakfast on on-task behavior in the classroom in children. Seven of the eleven studies demonstrated a positive effect of breakfast on on-task behavior."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Regular breakfast consumption is associated with increased odds of high academic achievement in Norwegian adolescent girls and boys, most strongly in girls — related
• Acute experimental studies show inconsistent effects of breakfast on classroom behavior, with three of seven showing an on-task advantage — reports the opposite
• A low glycaemic load breakfast increases time on-task in young children, but the effect is short-lived and specific to the first observation period — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• A mid-morning snack benefits on-task behavior only for children who consumed a small breakfast, correcting the energy deficiency — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Robust RCTs of school breakfast programs failed to find behavioral benefits, with low and variable attendance and a shift from at-home to at-school consumption limiting impact — related
• High intake of lemonade, sugar-sweetened soft drinks and salty snacks is associated with decreased odds of high academic achievement, mainly in girls — related
• School breakfast programs show suggestive positive effects on academic performance, with clearest effects on mathematics and arithmetic grades in undernourished children — related
• Quality of habitual breakfast, in terms of variety of food groups and adequate energy, is positively related to school performance — related