Do children who eat too much sugar become hyperactive?

The idea that children become hyperactive from eating too much sugar is widespread, but scientific research has found no clear link between sugar consumption and hyperactivity in children.

Several studies have attempted to determine whether sugar causes hyperactivity, and the results show that there is no direct link. A review analyzed 23 studies and concluded that sugar has no significant effect on children’s behavior or cognitive performance, including hyperactivity .

It is possible that the hyperactivity observed after sugar consumption is more likely to be the result of parental and caregiver expectations. When parents believe that their children have eaten sugar, they tend to rate them as more active or hyperactive, even if the children have not been given sugar.

Sugar is often consumed at parties, birthdays, or other exciting occasions. The energy and excitement of these environments may contribute to the idea that sugar makes children hyper. Although sugar does not cause hyperactivity, it can lead to spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels. A sugar spike can be followed by a crash, which can lead to fatigue or irritability, but this is not the same as hyperactivity.

Sugar consumption does not in itself cause hyperactivity in children. The perception that sugar makes children hyper seems to stem more from environmental factors and expectations than from an actual physiological effect of sugar.

Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149763418309175?via%3Dihub

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2024-08-12 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024