a new study shows that children who eat fast food
have lower IQ's causation
correlation that's really the question I have this is the study
that was conducted at the University over London
reports that children who consume more fast food
in there adulthood have lower IQ's than those who eat regularly fresh cooked
meals four thousand Scottish children aged three to five
were examined to compare the intelligence dampening effect if bad
fast food consumption versus quote from scratch
meals and doctor Sophie bonds done with the Department of Psychology at the
University of London says
its common sense that the type of food we eat will affect brain development but
previous research
only looked at the effect that specific food group
on children's IQ rather than at generic
types up meals higher fast food consumption by children
was linked with lower intelligence and this was even after adjustments were wet
were made
for wealth and social status there's another study
from the University other de lead in Australia
which was published a couple years ago which shows that toddlers who consume
junk food
grow less smart as they get older
in that study seven thousand children were examined at the age of six months
then again it 15 months and two years to examine their diet
when they were examined at age 8 the children who were consuming more
unhealthy food at IQ IQ's that were about two points lower
then those who were eating a wholesome diet
this is a fascinating study I don't deny that and I don't deny the effect
%uh diet on intelligent and development however
we have to ask is this an instance of causation
or correlation in the sense that number one there
is there is debate over the heritability
how hereditary IQ is let's assume
it is to some extent hereditary but still drastically influenced by
back tears during upbringing if we assume that
the there is a slight tendency for the parents above the children
who have the more fast food the heavy fast-food diets
to have slightly lower IQ's already we know that lower IQ
in adulthood is linked as is socioeconomic status
to higher consumption is fat a fast-food
so it stands to reason that the children who have more fast food
are ending up will lower IQ's not necessarily
as a result eating fast food but because
at least the heritability aspect a bit
is related to their parents lower IQ's is this possible Louis I think we have
to ask this question yeah
I think so but I i youth big that you have to admit that it is
are almost certain that stopping yourself
although chemicals while your brain is developing certainly would have an
impact
no question about it I think that there are numerous factors here I
also I would agree with louis that they're probably is some
impact from the food from the diet itself and number three I would say that
even though the study says it adjusted for socioeconomic factors
the the effects the overall
facts above wealth and and income
on children me are difficult often to quantify and qualify specifically so
even though I agree an attempt was made to normalize for socioeconomic factors
I think there's probably more to that that wasn't taking into account in the
study is very tough to
absolutely normalize for socio-economic impact when it comes to you two studies
so I think that all three of those things are factors here
XO yeah there there are just so many variables in a situation like this that
I I think it can be hard to determine
I think what is absolutely clear is that there is no positive affect
to having a a diet high in fast food and junk food when you're a kid that we can
be
absolutely sure I'll even if we debate the specifics at this particular study
let's take a break we have a lot to talk about today we'll also be talking in
very interesting interview today
about for profit colleges this is something we haven't talked about
I think since the 2012 election stay tuned for that report