This notion has been around since 1922 and many parents will swear that it is true. However, numerous scientific studies have shown it to be false. The few studies that seemed to support this idea have been discredited as having methodological flaws and/or alternative explanations of the results. The evidence that sugar intake is not linked to hyperactivity is rather substantial.
How and why did this notion originate? Two possible contributing factors may be:
- Situations where kids are likely to consume excess sugar, such as birthday parties, vacations, and holidays, are also when children’s excitement runs high and rules may be relaxed.
- Parents who believe the sugar-hyperactivity link may see hyperactivity when it does not really exist.
Hyperactivity aside, there are still reasons to limit your child’s sugar intake, such as weight and diabetes.