Effects of a Breakfast and Snack on Cognitive Function in Preadolescents

This study is designed to test how breakfast affects brain function, memory and learning in
healthy children.

Hypotheses: Based on the results of our initial study and the relevant literature, it is
hypothesized that arousal, attention, and performance will be:

1. Greater in those who eat breakfast relative to those who do not;

2. Greater in lean than in overweight children receiving the higher protein breakfast;

3. Greater in fasting lean than fasting overweight children; and

4. Improved following a morning snack in all study groups.

5. Poorer in children with higher stress-related measures (e.g., higher cortisol levels).

6. Heart rate will be lower in fasting relative to fed participants, and across groups
will be higher in overweight children.