Hungry Children Have Problems at School

We have all heard that breakfast is essential for a child's best chance to learn. But a recent study has determined that hungry children are more likely to have behavioral and academic problems
than children who get enough to eat.

In a study conducted at Harvard Medical School and the Child Psychiatry Service of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, researchers used a series of questionnaires to survey children, parents and teachers to determine the prevalence and effect of hunger on a group of 204 school children from low-income families. Results showed that children from hungry families are two to three times more likely to have behavior and scholastic problems than children in low-income families that are not classified as hungry.

And the bad news doesn't stop there. According to USDA figures, 20 million Americans relied on food stamps to obtain a more adequate diet in January of this year. More than half of that 20 million people were children. Nearly 70 percent of these children live in single adult households with significantly lower monthly incomes. Participation in the National School Lunch Program is up by about 170,000 children who are receiving a higher lunch subsidy that is, those more likely to come from a low-income household than a year ago.

Children are hungrier, and hungry children have problems at school. Hungry children were also absent and tardy twice as many days as not-hungry children. The study concluded that child psychiatrists should consider nutrition when diagnosing behavior.

In addition, it is hoped that parents, school officials and teachers will also be aware of the major role nutrition plays in the school success of children.

Sources: Community Nutrition Institute; Nutrition Week, vol. XXVIII, no. 16. p.2. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Vol. 37, No. 2; February, 1998; pp. 163-170.

Sandy Procter, M.S., R.D.
Coordinator, EFNEP

5/98 File: NUTRITION, LIFE-CYCLE/School-aged Child (6-11 yrs.)

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