We are what we eat?

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It always amazes me how many “learned” people fail to comprehend the vast difference between correlation and causation. It becomes more annoying when the true causation factors are glaringly obvious.

Drs. Kelly Purtell (Ohio State) and Elizabeth Gershoff (Texas at Austin) recently published their study: Fast Food Consumption and Academic Growth in Late Childhood in the journal, Clinical Pediatrics. They employed the basic data of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study- Kindergarten Cohort. These data are collected by the National Center for Educational Statistics, which includes children who were in kindergarten in 1998-9. There were some 11740 students in this data set, but the authors focused on 8544 who were currently in fifth grade. (This means the actual data were collected in 2004.)

Foto de una carretera en la cual se destacan a...
Foto de una carretera en la cual se destacan anuncios de los restaurantes de comida rápida KFC, Wendy’s y Taco Bell entre otros. Picture of a highway in which fast food ads are featured:KFC, Wendy’s and Taco Bell among others. Taken in Bowling Green, KY. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

While we all seem to know that fast food and obesity are related, the two researchers were curious to see if the consumption of this “nutritious” fare was also associated with academic performance. (Of course, we already know that the lower socioeconomic groups are far more likely to rely on fast food for their basic nutrition than other groups. And, even if they don’t eat at fast food “restaurants” [primarily because they lack sufficient cash to do so], the nutritional status of these folks is often severely lacking.) And, that, is the primary reason why I have tremendous problems with their “conclusions”!

The focus, as stated previously, was on 5th grade children (nominally of age 10) and correlating their fast food consumption and their ability to perform on tests determining math, reading, and science capabilities some 3 years later (while in 8th grade, nominally of age 13).

And, drum roll please….

The researchers found that small changes in fast food indulgence correlated with poorer academic test results. Daily indulgers were associated with test scores that were 20% lower than those who never ate fast food.

Now, Purtell and Geshoff claimed they “corrected” for other factors like habits and backgrounds- in particular the characteristics of their neighborhoods, their schools, their socioeconomic status, as well as fitness and other eating habits.

Keep in mind that more than ½ the students frequented fast food fare thrice to once a week. Oh, and ¾ averaged once a week visits to these establishments. The completed questionnaires indicated that 10% of these children were daily visitors to fast food establishments, 10% more visited them 4 to 6 times weekly. (We also know- from other studies that for children ranging from age 2 to 18, 13% of their daily calories are consumed at fast food establishments.)

(Note: this study seems to have decided that eating OR drinking at a fast food establishment was equivalent.  Hmm. I knew Coke and Pepsi were bad for one’s teeth and waistlines, but achievement? Must be the sugar high. Which is where a slew of those fast food calories are, indeed, obtained. I will grant that high fat and cholesterol diets are associated with memory failings- and fast food certainly qualifies as such entries, but…)

So, what did we really learn?  Not what the researchers want us to believe.  No, instead this study simply provided the data demonstrating that we need to support those in lower socioeconomic status- more than we  currently do- with AFDC (Aid for Dependent Children) and Food Stamps (oh, sorry, that is no longer politically correct- SNAP-Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)- plus we need to stop cutting the funding for better school nutrition programs about which I wrote late last year.

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5 thoughts on “We are what we eat?”

  1. I’d still be at the hypothesis stage. Could it be that these kids get less focus on education at home – that is, less active support and encouragement from parents who may have less education and/or be working more than one job? I wonder which would boost scores more: better nutrition, more active encouragement/support in studies by an adult or older sibling, or all of the above? 🙂
    Holly Jahangiri recently posted..How to Write a Book from Scratch

      1. Thank you! The nice thing about my potential solutions is that they can’t hurt, and are the right thing to do. I’m for spending tax dollars that way, even if it only makes the lives of kids happier and healthier. Happier, healthier kids – or so MY hypothesis goes – are more likely to pay it forward. And they ARE the folks who will be running the world when we’re old. So it’s not even an altruistic thing, on my part – it is most definitely in line with my self-interest. 😉
        Holly Jahangiri recently posted..Tips for Leaving Comments When There’s Nothing to Say

  2. I would probably understand this article better if I could only put this Whopper down. Me no under stand more and more the more I eat fast food.
    Actually, I do understand and get the points, I just find it funny when there are studies done and answers drawn up that most people should just logically understand without having to have studies and tests done.

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