Primary school children who eat a healthy diet and exercise more do better at maths, research by Maastricht University has shown.

The children were given a healthy lunch and extra gym classes over a period of four years. “We were amazed about the outcome,” professor of preventative medicine Onno van Schayk told RTL Nieuws. “The children showed improvement after just a year and the effect remained. We had expected it would make a difference but not so quickly and so pronounced,” he said.

Researchers studied the data from research carried out among 2,200 children at eight primary schools between 2015 and 2020. Two schools were offered a healthy lunch and extra exercise classes, while at two other schools the children only exercised more. Four schools served as a control group.

It was clear at the time that the children who had a healthy lunch and more exercise were healthier and had less belly fat but it’s the first time that a link has been established between a healthy diet and exercise and better math skills.

After four years the healthier children far outshone the children in the control group but only at maths. Language skills did not show great discrepancies. “Language skills are partly developed at home,” Van Schayk said. “Parents will often practice words and sentences with their children but not sums.”

Marina Schmitz, head teacher of one of the participating schools, told RTL a healthy lunch is “vital”. “Some children come to school with a cold pizza slice in their lunch box,” she said. “That is not food for the brain.”

After a lunch of wholemeal bread and a choice of cucumber, radishes, cheese, egg and jam, the children are more alert, she said. Parents pay an extra €1.75 for the lunch and extra exercise classes. “That means they don’t have to shop for lunch and if they can’t afford it there is help available,” Schmitz said.

Van Schayk said the government must do more to promote healthy eating.

The government has committed to spending €135 million on free school meals for children from poor families. “That is mainly aimed at filling stomachs. The point is that the food must also be good for you,” Van Schayk said.