London: A recent study conducted by the University of Eastern Finland has revealed that children who spend excessive time using computers and similar devices may experience lower reasoning skills, which are essential for learning, academic performance, and problem-solving.
The research indicated that children who improved their overall diet quality, consumed less red meat, engaged in more reading, and participated in organized sports demonstrated enhanced reasoning abilities during the initial two years of school. Conversely, spending too much time on computers and unsupervised physical activities negatively impacted reasoning skills.
Interestingly, factors like screen time, physical activity during school transportation, physical activity during recess, and the intensity of physical activity did not show significant associations with reasoning skills.
Sehrish Naveed, a doctoral researcher at the university, highlighted, “Children with healthier eating habits showed greater cognitive development than other children. Specifically, better overall diet quality, lower red meat consumption, and higher low-fat dairy product intake were linked to better reasoning skills.”
The study, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, investigated how a two-year intervention involving diet and physical activity affected the cognition of 397 Finnish elementary school children. The research also explored the connections between dietary patterns, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and cognitive development over the course of two years.
The analyses considered variables such as parental education, income, children’s body fat percentage, and maturity level. Eero Haapala, another researcher from the university, emphasized the multifaceted nature of children’s lives and noted that investing in a healthy diet, encouraging reading, and engaging in organized sports all play roles in fostering reasoning skills among children.
