Could a contributing factor be the quality of food that easier to access when poor? I grew up in a slightly higher than poverty environment and had to cook when my mom was at work. I was probably an exception, all my friends would eat frozen prepared meals and fast food.
Calories certainly do not equal proper vitamins, enzymes and amino acids, required for a developing living being. Frozen meals and fast food have plenty of empty calories and can put the body in survival mode, storing more fat and leading to blood sugar issues, to say the least. Thoughts?
Nutrition is definitely a factor, but probably not the major one.
I think the number one factor is probably access to parental attention.
It's shocking how much better an elementary age student can do when there is a parent to remind them about a homework project that is due. Or be available to answer a question on basic math or the meaning of a word.
Even in two equally driven students, self learning gets stuck at home in ways parents can unblock if they have the time and energy to do it.
Calories certainly do not equal proper vitamins, enzymes and amino acids, required for a developing living being. Frozen meals and fast food have plenty of empty calories and can put the body in survival mode, storing more fat and leading to blood sugar issues, to say the least. Thoughts?