The British Medical Journal published an article this month de-bunking the myth that sugar causes hyperactivity in children. The authors, Rachel Vreeman and Aaron Carroll (both professors of paediatrics), write that scientific evidence suggests there is no relationship between the consumption of sugar and changes in behavior.
The results of the study have subsequently been reported by the BBC, CNN, ABC and other new sources.
What I found the most interesting about this study – which really was a review of 12 double-blind trials – is that parents so firmly believe sugar impacts behavior that they tend to see changes that aren’t really present. In a study where parents thought their children had been given a sugary drink they perceived the youngsters’ behavior as more hyperactive. In reality, the drink was sugar free.
The study also noted that even research involving children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or those who were considered sensitive to sugar found no evidence of behavioral change.
This should make a lot of parents rest easy this holiday season. While it’s important to consume sugary products in moderation, there is a place for candy and other snack foods in an overall healthy, active lifestyle.
Sugar by Uwe Hermann
