Author(s): Dr. Neha Mishra

Abstract:
It has been suggested that breakfast influence cognitive performance of children. There is growing evidence that effect of breakfast is more pronounced on undernourished children. In this study, short term effects of breakfast on cognitive ability were examined in undernourished and well-nourished student. 26 undernourished and 18 well-nourished children were selected from four different primary school of semi urban area of Allahabad district. Children were randomly assigned to the control and treatment group and then four cognitive tests were performed. Statistical analysis of test scores were done by student t test and two way ANOVA at 5% level of significance (p≤0.05). The present study found after breakfast cognitive performance increases both in undernourished and well-nourished student however, significant effect were found only in undernourished children. Result of statistical analysis shows effect of breakfast is significant in undernourished student only in cognitive test of verbal fluency and arithmetic test. There were no significant main effects of nutritional group in any of the repeated measures of ANOVA. There were no other significant treatment main effects or treatment group interactions. The study suggests that omitting breakfast interferes with cognitive performance of students, an effect that is more pronounced in undernourished children.