Effects of Student Nutrition on Academic Performance

This research looks as the influence student nutrition has on academic performance. More specifically, how food insecurity, and school food consumption impacts grade point average. The data for the research was collected from an in person survey and an online student database. The data was then synthesized together, creating one holistic database. From that database I was able to them run an ordinary least square regression analysis. The findings revealed that for each increment a student got closer to being food insecure on the survey, their grade point average went down by.12 points. Additionally, students that are consuming two meals a day at school, breakfast and lunch, have grade point average that is .139 points lower than students who don’t, and students who feel it is important to choose healthy food have a grade point average that is .629 points higher than students that don’t. The conclusions of this research defines that educators need a better system to access more nutritious food on campus. Through new policy and program implementation, educators can eliminate the lack of nutrition as a hindrance in academics.