Sugar: Does it Really Cause Hyperactivity?

Round up a group of kids for a party, give them some cake and soda, and before you know it they’ll be bouncing off the walls, right? Not exactly. While many parents swear that sugar makes their kids hyperactive, a substantial body of research shows there’s no link between the two.

The Sweet Truth

The sugar-hyperactivity myth is based on a single study from the mid 1970s, in which a doctor removed the sugar from one child's diet and that child's behavior improved. Since then, dozens of larger studies have been conducted without proving sugar causes hyperactivity. However, some studies indicate that children who have attention-deficient hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be more sensitive to sugar.

Interestingly enough, researchers have found that parents are more likely to say that their kids are overly active when they think they've consumed sugar. Some studies have asked parents to rate their child's hyperactivity after drinking a beverage with sugar. Unknown to the parents, the drink was sugar-free, but the parents still rated their child as more hyperactive.

Guilty By Association?

You may think your child is acting out during their birthday party because of the sweet snacks being eaten, but your child may be wired because of the excitement of playing games and being with friends. Experts say you should take stock of your child's environment before blaming sweets for hyperactivity or bad behavior.

Get Label Savvy

Hyperactivity aside, there is another reason you should be concerned with the amount of added sugars your child consumes. Most Americans, including children, consume too many added sugars. When kids fill up on sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, they have little appetite for healthier foods their growing bodies need, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy.

You can reduce the amount of added sugar your family consumes by checking the Nutrition Fact label and limiting foods such as soda, candy and desserts. Simple swaps also can help. For example, when stocking the pantry or refrigerator, choose items that are unsweetened, for example unsweetened applesauce or unsweetened plain yogurt.

While you don't need to restrict the sweet stuff entirely, you can offer it strategically with appropriate portion sizes and by including more healthful foods throughout the day.