Kids love junk food, but it can harm them. The key to helping kids handle junk food is to teach them moderation. For most children, occasional small portions of junk food won't do much harm. But problems arise when children don't know how to control themselves and parents fail to monitor the overeating. One negative effect that might result directly or indirectly from eating too much junk food is a loss of focus.
Types
Junk foods have few nutrients but many unhealthy ingredients, which might include extreme amounts of fat, sugar, salt, preservatives, and artificial colors and flavors. Typical products include chips, sugary soft drinks, candy and fried foods. The exact effect particular ingredients have on children depends on their physical constitution, the amount they eat, how much they exercise and other factors. The important thing to realize is that junk food is fun to eat but can be dangerous if not controlled.
Indirect Cause of Loss of Focus
Children who eat too much junk food are prone to obesity. Unless they begin to exercise regularly, they might get trapped in a cycle of overeating and social inhibition, which can decrease physical activity even further. For example, obese children who fear criticism from peers might avoid sports and games that can be a healthy source of exercise. Regular exercise increases energy levels, so these children become lethargic and unfocused. That's why the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages teachers to bolster academic performance by fostering regular physical activity and healthy eating.
Direct Cause of Loss of Focus
The exact roles the various ingredients of junk food play in a child's loss of focus are not well-understood. One possibility is that junk foods that have high amounts of sugar and carbohydrates cause blood glucose levels to fluctuate too rapidly. This might trigger the body to produce adrenaline and consequently lead to hyperactivity, which could cause a child to lose focus as he becomes more energetic, impulsive and distracted, leading to a decreased attention span.
Considerations
Studies differ concerning the impact of sugar and other junk-food ingredients, such as artificial colorings and flavorings, on children's behavior, according to MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. The safest approach is to talk to a pediatrician or nutritionist about how you can incorporate moderate amounts of junk food into your child's diet without causing harm. If you notice your child loses focus after certain types or amounts of junk food, restrict or eliminate the problem-causing foods.
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