According to recent research, one of the most important factors in a child's educational development is what they eat up until the age of three. A study conducted by the Institute of Education at London University and the University of Bristol found that if children were fed a diet of junk food when they were three, they were likely to be less academic than other children.

Poor diet damage to kids
In 2005, the UK government increased spending on school lunches in an aim to make them healthier, however the researchers claim that te onus is on parents to make the right choices as poor diet in a child's early development can cause irreversible damage. Dr Pauline Emmett from the University of Bristol, said: "We are confident that this is a robust association. It indicates that early eating patterns have effects that persist over time, regardless of later changes in diet. "So it is very important for children to eat a well-balanced diet from an early age if they are to get the best out of their education."

Emmett's research data was based on data from the Children of the 90s study, which followed the development of 14,000 children since their birth in 1991 or 1992.

The study looked into the progress made by children in the last four years at primary school. It found the 25% of children who ate the most junk food at three were 10% less likely to achieve the expected improvement between tests at ages six to seven and tests at ten to eleven.

Junk food is still junk, whatever age
However, the study doesn't recommend that children from the age of four and upwards should be given carte blanche to gorge on junk food. The dangers of taking in too many E-numbers have been increasingly publicised over the past decade, and the hyperactivity brought on by energy drinks is certainly a cause for concern.

Kids getting larger
The UK retail giant BHS reports that this year it has expanded its « generous fit » range to cater for the ever growing number of kids who cannot fit into the largest childrens' sizes. BHS say that they have introduced the clothing size 18, which fits adult women with a 42in bust, 34in waist and 44in hips. With one in four 11 to 15 year olds now classified as overweight or obese, more and more major retailers are getting their act together to provide for this new market.