Childhood obesity might not just be causing health problems. It could lead to academic problems, too.
Researchers from four different universities agree that obese girls' grades are not as good as those with more healthy body sizes. That correlation wasn't as prevalent in boys. (Via NPR)
The study observed 6,000 students in the U.K. from ages 11 to 16. Of those students, 71 percent were obese, 13 percent were overweight, and 15 percent were at a healthy weight. Obese students had a higher chance of getting a D instead of a C, which was used as the average grade in the study. (Via Flickr / CollegeDegrees360)
According to RedOrbit: "Researchers took into account factors like socio-economic deprivation, mental health, IQ and age of menarche for the study. However, they found that these factors did not change the relationship discovered between obesity and poor grades."
But, interestingly, researchers found when the students were obese was also a factor.
The researchers wrote: "Being overweight or obese at age 16 was not as detrimental for attainment if participants had been a healthy weight at age 11 suggesting that potentially, it is long term overweight/obesity that is the most problematic." (Via International Journal of Obesity)
The study was published in the International Journal of Obesity.
