Study Finds Junk Food Can Raise Test Scores
Schools That Boost Calories On Test Days Get Better Scores
Posted: 7:57 a.m. EST November 20, 2002

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Junk food makes you smarter, at least in the short term.

A study released Tuesday by University of Florida suggests that schools offering high-calorie lunches on days where standardized exams are administered do better on the tests than schools serving healthier lunches on those days.

"There exists a well-established link between nutrition and short-term cognitive functioning," the study's co-author, David Figlio, wrote.

The study compared nutritional content of school lunch menus from 23 randomly selected districts in Virginia on days of state-mandated tests against non-test days during the 1999-2000 academic year.

It linked high-calorie, low-nutrition meals with schools which faced possible state sanctions for underachievment. A 110-calorie bump over the regular lunch menu in those troubled schools increased passing scores by 11 percent in math, 6 percent in English and 6 percent in social studies over schools offering lower-calorie menus on the same days.

Previous studies have shown that the energy boost which comes from consuming glucose or empty calories has given students a short-term learning advantage.

Ann Lucas, who plans the menus for schools in Alachua County, said she doesn't design lunches specifically for testing days, but said she could see where the study had some merits.

"You obviously can't produce when you don't have any energy or glucose floating around," Lucas said.

Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

I'm on easy street :D

Wahoo! Mcdonalds here i come! (just so's you know i actually don't eat at mcdonalds or any other fast food resturant on the basis, i'm too lazy to go there [img]smile.gif[/img] )

Why not? Everyone does anything better when they're happy.