While a balanced and nutritious diet is essential during every stage in life, it is especially important for children and adolescents – this includes getting the right amount of vitamins and minerals. After all, these young ones are still growing, so their bodies need proper sustenance to ensure that everything develops as it should.
Most parents do their bests to provide good, healthy food for their kids, but sometimes limited budgets and time constraints can prevent them from doing so. However, a recent study revealed yet another reason for parents to go the extra mile to make sure their kids eat right.
On September 3, the medical journal Pediatrics published an NYU study analyzing the effects of adolescent obesity and metabolic syndrome on brain development. According to a press release, metabolic syndrome (MetS) is “a constellation of three or more of five defined health problems, including abdominal obesity, low HDL (good cholesterol), high triglycerides, high blood pressure and pre-diabetic insulin resistance.”
Researchers from the university’s school of medicine assembled a group of 111 preteens, 49 of whom had been diagnosed with MetS. Out of the 62 other participants, just under half were considered obese in medical terms. Based on their observations, the scientists determined that younger individuals with MetS had limited cognitive abilities, struggling during simple activities and getting poorer results on math and spelling assessments.
“Kids who are struggling with their weight and moving toward having MetS may have lower grades, which could ultimately lead to lower professional achievement in the long run,” explained Dr. Antonio Convit, lead author of the study and professor of medicine at the university.
Based on his findings, Dr. Convit stresses that parents play close attention to the eating habits of their children. In addition to setting the table with plates full of healthy foods, consider giving your children a daily supplement loaded with vitamins and minerals that promote brain nutrition. For information about our multivitamins for kids, click here.