Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42451107›Full record

ArticleNutrients2026

Integrated Structured Breakfast and Morning Sport Program and Its Associations with Attention, Executive Functions, and Academic Performance in Students.

Francesca Latino, Domenico Tafuri, Emma Saraiello, Maria Giovanna Tafuri

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nutrients, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Francesca LatinoDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-0302-6145
Domenico TafuriDepartment of Medical, Human Movement and Well-Being Sciences, University of Naples "Parthenope", 80100 Naples, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5948-1414
Emma SaraielloDepartment of Medical, Human Movement and Well-Being Sciences, University of Naples "Parthenope", 80100 Naples, Italy.
Maria Giovanna TafuriDepartment of Literary, Linguistic and Philosophical Studies, Pegaso University, 80143 Naples, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesIncreasing evidence suggests that nutrition and sport participation may positively influence cognitive functioning, readiness for learning, and academic achievement during adolescence. However, limited research has investigated the combined effects of structured breakfast programs and cognitively oriented sport-based interventions implemented in real school settings. The present study aimed to examine the associations between participation in an integrated school-based program consisting of structured breakfast and morning sport sessions and executive functions, physiological well-being, school engagement, and academic achievement in adolescent students.

methodsA 16-week quasi-experimental pre-post study with class-based allocation was conducted in a secondary school in Southern Italy. A total of 110 students aged 14-16 years participated in the study. The experimental group, comprising 55 students, participated in a structured breakfast program combined with cognitively oriented morning sport-based sessions conducted three times per week for 40 min before regular lessons, whereas the control group continued ordinary school activities. Cognitive assessment included the Stroop Color and Word Test and the Digit Span Test in both forward and backward conditions. Physiological measures included body mass index, resting heart rate, and the 20 m shuttle run test. Nutritional habits, school engagement, and academic achievement were also evaluated through questionnaires and school records.

resultsCompared with the control group, students participating in the integrated program showed more favorable changes in selective attention, inhibitory control, working memory performance, cardiorespiratory fitness, breakfast habits, and school engagement over the study period. Moderate positive changes in academic achievement were also observed, whereas no substantial anthropometric changes emerged during the study period.

conclusionsThe findings suggest that participation in an integrated school-based program combining structured nutrition and cognitively oriented sport activities was associated with improvements in cognitive functioning, healthy habits, and academic outcomes during adolescence. These findings highlight the potential value of multidimensional educational approaches integrating health promotion and learning processes within school environments.

Indexed as

Academic PerformanceAttentionBreakfastExecutive FunctionSportsStudentsAdolescentCardiorespiratory FitnessCognitionFemaleHumansItalyMaleSchoolsadolescencebreakfastcardiorespiratory fitnesscognitive activationexecutive functionsschool-based interventionsport

Identifiers

PMID42451107
PMCPMC13363210

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.