Sugary meals make kids wild and want to bounce off of anything in their path. This is a reality that can be attested to by any parent. In this Extra, we investigate whether or if this conventional wisdom can withstand the test of scientific inquiry.
The candy dishes are empty, and the noise level is through the roof. Joyful squeals can be heard as grownups watch their kids completely lose it after consuming a sugary treat. What does the research indicate, though? Does children's susceptibility to hyperactivity rise if they consume more sugar?
The numbers point to a "probably not," which may come as a surprise. Anybody who has been to a kid-friendly party with snacks on hand will find this hard to believe, so let's examine the proof or lack thereof.
Children's Hyperactivity And The Use Of Sugar
In the 1990s, researchers were increasingly curious about whether or not children's behavior may be affected by sugar. The results of 23 investigations were summarized across 16 research articles and reported in a 1995 meta-analysis in JAMA.
Only placebo-using studies were considered; researchers ensured that participants were kept in the dark about who received sugar and a dummy substance. Finding no correlation between sugar and children's behavior or cognitive ability, the authors concluded that "this meta-analysis of the published research to date."
The authors admit, however, that they can't rule out the potential of a "small influence." They reiterate the necessity for larger-scale investigations. And some kids could react differently to sweets than others. The researchers show, however, that the effect is far smaller than many parents claim it to be.
Is Sugar A Bigger Deal For Some Kids?
Some parents worry that their kids can't handle any amount of sweets. One set of researchers compared two sets of kids to see if it was the case:
- 25 "typical" preschoolers (ages 3-5)
- 23 6–10-year-olds whose parents reported sugar sensitivity
For nine weeks, each family tried out three different experimental diets. Specifically, the diets consisted of the following:
- very sweet due to a high concentration of sucrose and no added sugar
- low in sugar and sweetened with aspartame
- containing saccharin, a placebo, but low in sugar
Why Does The Concept Persist?
Those who have read thus far may wonder, "If there is no scientific evidence that sugar generates hyperactivity in children, why does it produce hyperactivity in my children?" As unfortunate as it is to admit, some guilt may lie with parental expectations.
In 1994, the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology published research supporting this claim. Thirty-five boys, ages 5-7, were enrolled in the study because their mothers reported that they displayed "sugar sensitive" behavior.
The kids were divided up into two teams. The aspartame placebos were given to everyone. The mothers of half the children were informed that their children had gotten a placebo, whereas the other children's mothers were told that their children had received a very significant dosage of sugar.
What Inspired This?
For the better part of a century, people have worried about sugar's impact on their health. Scientists are still trying to pin down every nuance of this sugary chemical's impact on human health. Children with "tension-fatigue syndrome," characterized by exhaustion and irritability, may be sensitive to maize sugars or corn syrup. Reactive or functional hypoglycemia, a drop in blood sugar after a meal that can induce symptoms like anxiety, disorientation, and irritability, was blamed on sugar in the 1970s.
Constant Investigation
Research linking hyperactivity and sugar had slowed since the 1990s when the case was mostly decided. While this is true, research has proceeded in one area. Although most kids may safely eat sugar without becoming hyperactive, the judgment is still out on whether or not this holds for kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Researchers have looked at this issue from two perspectives, first exploring if a child's susceptibility to developing ADHD is increased by consuming a high-sugar diet and second, whether or not consuming sugar increases ADHD symptoms.
According to the first school of thought, a study on 107 fifth graders published in 2011 indicated "no significant connection between total volume of simple sugar intake from snacks and ADHD development."
Summary
Most kids don't become hyper from sugar, it appears. Larger, longer-term research may one day find a correlation, but for now, the data show it's just fiction. Yet this doesn't change the reality that a sugary diet is linked to health problems, including diabetes, obesity, tooth decay, and heart disease. Sugar intake should still be monitored, both in children and adults, for the sake of good health.
