More than 40 years ago, a classic experiment established that we can learn a lot about the adults children will grow into using only a soft, sugary treat.

The Stanford marshmallow experiment, first conducted in 1972, showed that a child’s ability to resist the aforementioned marshmallow in pursuit of a future reward predicted that child’s future academic and social success with surprising accuracy. But in the decades since the test, that simple marshmallow has grown remarkably complicated in the context of what we know about a child’s brain and an adult’s health.

The close link between the health of the mind and of the body is one that scientists and medical professionals both increasingly recognize and closely observe. In one simplified example, I may hit the chocolate chip cookies a little too hard not because I’m hungry, but because I’m anxious. If that is the case, addressing my anxieties might be more effective than simply padlocking the cookie jar. Conversely, poor nutrition may amplify my anxieties, causing a mind-body feedback loop that makes it harder to resist the cookies.

http://www.palisadeshudson.com/2014/04/how-secure-kids-become-healthier-adults/