Unhealthy Food Habits Threaten Student Learning

Education is widely regarded as one of the most powerful instruments of national development. However, the quality of education depends not only on textbooks, classrooms, technology and teaching methods but also on the physical and mental well-being of learners. A healthy mind requires a healthy body, and unhealthy eating habits among secondary-level students in Bangladesh deserve greater attention because nutrition can influence health, energy, concentration and the ability to learn.

In the past, children were generally accustomed to traditional homemade foods such as rice, fish, vegetables, eggs, milk and seasonal fruits. However, rapid urbanisation, changing lifestyles, busy family schedules and the growing influence of global food culture have changed the eating patterns of many young people. Today, students are increasingly exposed to fast food, soft drinks, packaged snacks, instant noodles and other highly processed or sugary foods. Skipping breakfast before school can also leave students without adequate energy at the beginning of the school day.

Evidence shows that this is not merely a theoretical concern. According to the World Health Organisation’s Global School-Based Student Health Survey conducted in Bangladesh in 2014, 48.1 per cent of surveyed students reported drinking carbonated soft drinks at least once a day during the previous 30 days. The survey also found that 39.9 per cent had eaten food from a fast-food restaurant on at least two days during the previous week. Although these figures are from 2014 and should not be treated as current national estimates, they demonstrate that unhealthy food consumption among school-aged young people has been a concern for some time.

The problem is also visible around many schools. School gates and nearby markets often have shops and vendors selling colourful packaged foods, fried snacks, sugary drinks and other inexpensive items that are attractive to students. Taste, affordability, convenience and marketing can all influence children’s food choices. At the same time, increased screen time, reduced physical activity, irregular sleep and changing family routines may contribute to unhealthy lifestyles among young people.

Nutrition is closely related to healthy growth and development and also plays an important role in brain development and cognitive functioning. UNICEF Bangladesh notes that inadequate nutrition can affect children’s concentration and focus, making learning more difficult. Recent research also indicates that nutrition supports neurocognitive development during the school years, although it would be inappropriate to claim that a particular diet automatically produces better academic results. Students’ academic performance is influenced by many factors, including teaching quality, family circumstances, socioeconomic conditions, sleep, physical activity and individual differences.

The secondary education stage deserves particular attention because it coincides with adolescence, a period of significant physical, emotional and cognitive development. Students need adequate energy and a varied diet containing essential nutrients during this stage. A student who is frequently tired, weak or unwell may find it more difficult to remain attentive and participate actively in classroom activities. Consequently, teachers may face additional challenges in maintaining engagement and achieving expected learning outcomes.

Families have an important role to play. Many parents, particularly those with demanding work schedules, may find it difficult to monitor what their children eat throughout the day. Students are often given money to purchase food at school or on their way home. Without adequate nutritional awareness, they may naturally choose foods that are cheap, tasty and easily available rather than nutritious options. Parents can help by providing healthy meals, encouraging regular breakfast, limiting excessive sugary drinks and highly processed foods, and teaching children to make sensible food choices.

Schools can play an equally important role. School authorities should ensure that canteens and food vendors operating within school premises provide safe and healthier food choices. Nutrition education can be incorporated into school activities so that students understand the importance of a balanced diet and develop healthy habits from an early age. Schools can also encourage access to safe drinking water and promote physical activity as part of a broader healthy-school environment.

Importantly, Bangladesh already has a policy foundation for adolescent nutrition. The Adolescent Nutrition Programme 2020 includes an operational guideline intended for use in secondary schools and madrasas across the country. The priority, therefore, should not only be developing new policies but also ensuring effective implementation, monitoring and coordination among relevant sectors. Government agencies should strengthen cooperation among the education, health and food sectors, monitor the safety and quality of food sold in and around schools, and promote nutrition-awareness campaigns involving parents, teachers, students and local communities.

We often measure educational success through examination results, admission rates and academic achievements. These indicators are important, but they do not tell the whole story. A student’s ability to benefit from education also depends on health, nutrition, emotional well-being and the capacity to remain attentive and engaged in learning.

Therefore, improving students’ eating habits should be regarded as an important component of improving Bangladesh’s education system. The responsibility belongs to parents, teachers, schools, communities and policymakers alike. The future of Bangladesh depends greatly on today’s students. If we want to develop skilled, creative and productive citizens, we must provide them not only with quality education but also with an environment that supports healthy growth and learning.

Well-nourished students are more likely to be healthy, attentive and ready to learn. Investing in their nutrition is therefore not separate from investing in education; it is part of investing in Bangladesh’s future.