Adolescents regularly consuming ultra-processed foods are more likely to have lower grades than those who rarely eat these foods, latest research has indicated.

Scientists have found that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are associated with poorer academic performances among teens.

Previous research has shown that a Mediterranean diet can help adolescents improve their educational grades.

During the study, the team of academics analysed existing data from a survey that included 788 young people from Spain aged between 12 and 17.

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Each participant completed a food frequency survey to outline their dietary habits. In the questionnaire, foods were divided into four groups dependent on their processing: namely UPFs, processed foods, products with processed culinary ingredients, and minimally processed or unprocessed foods.

To assess their academic ability, the researchers examined their school records, looking particularly at their English, maths and language grades.

They found that the respondents with the highest intake of UPFs had the lowest grades, and those who consumed the least UPFs had the highest.

Sausages, dairy products, fast foods, sweets, fried foods and beverages were all associated with the worse grades, the study has reported.

The research states: “The observed relationship could be due to nutritional imbalances caused by a UPF-rich diet, which is high in artificial additives, added sugars, and saturated fats but lacks essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids needed for brain development and cognitive function.

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“The added sugars in UPFs could also cause fluctuations in blood glucose, increasing fatigue and reducing alertness.”

It added: “Consuming UPFs regularly has also been implicated in poorer sleep quality, decreasing decision-making ability, attention, and memory.

Finally, UPFs could also lead to chronic inflammation, which can impair brain function.”

Read the study in the journal Nutrients.