Exams lead-up sees female students reach for junk food

GIRLS are well known to perform better at exams than boys but female students have been found to rely more on snacks and junk food in the lead-up to important tests.

Among 253 students preparing for the Leaving Certificate or a third-level exam, it emerged that almost half of female students ate more junk food at this time, compared to less than two-in-five males.

While normally female students eat more healthily than their male counterparts, snacking on tea, fresh fruit, juice, yoghurt or crackers, their male counterparts are more likely to choose crisps, soft drinks or coffee. At exam time, pressure causes girls to reach for crisps.