Effects of breakfast and exercise on children's classroom behavior

Project EMBRACE: Embracing Morning BReakfast and Activity for Classroom Engagement

Not applicable Interventional University of Illinois at Chicago · NCT06555627

This study is testing how having a healthy breakfast and doing morning exercise affects how well children behave and focus in the classroom.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment50 (estimated)
Ages6 Years to 11 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Illinois at Chicago Academic / other
Locations1 site (Chicago, Illinois)
Trial IDNCT06555627 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This experiment investigates how healthy breakfast and morning exercise impact children's focus and behavior in the classroom. Over one week, 40 children will be randomly assigned to four groups: one receiving both breakfast and exercise, one receiving only breakfast, one receiving only exercise, and one receiving neither. The study will assess classroom engagement, off-task behavior, and cognitive performance through observations and tasks, while also measuring brain blood flow using fNIRS technology. The goal is to understand the independent and combined effects of nutrition and physical activity on child development.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are children aged 6-11 years who are enrolled in the participating school.

Not a fit: Children younger than 5 years, older than 12 years, or those with allergies to dairy or gluten may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved educational outcomes for children by enhancing their focus and engagement in the classroom.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown positive effects of breakfast and exercise on children's cognitive performance, suggesting this approach may yield beneficial results.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* 6-11 years old
* Enrolled at the participating school

Exclusion Criteria:

* Younger than 5 years old
* Older than 12 years old
* Not enrolled in a participating school
* Allergic to dairy or gluten

Where this trial is running

Chicago, Illinois

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Child Development
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.