As the children scramble to retrieve the candy from a birthday party pinata, you exchange knowing glances and casual conversation with another parent. The conversation centers on the effects that the cake, ice cream and candy have on the children's behavior. You are not alone when you blame sugar ingestion for your child's tireless antics. However, sugar is not the villain in children's hyperactivity.
Sugar's Effect on Behavior
The ingestion of sugar is anecdotally blamed for sustained, observable increases in hyperactive behavior. However, the effects of sugar are likely to be fleeting. Processed sugars produce immediate changes in the child's blood glucose levels because they enter the bloodstream rapidly. Temporary increases in adrenaline supply your child with additional energy.
Hyperactive Behavior
Hyperactive or hyperkinetic behavior can exist alone or with the symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, commonly called ADHD. Children who struggle with ADHD demonstrate inattention, impulsive behavior and hyperactivity. Hyperactive behaviors include fidgeting, talking excessively and difficulty remaining seated. Hyperactivity is difficult to assess objectively. Your child's activity level varies according to his age, his interest in an activity and the level of supervision provided by an adult. Behaviors that appear hyperactive to you may seem ordinary to another individual.
Absence of Proof
The American Dietetic Association reports that parents continue to associate their children's hyperactive behavior with the ingestion of sugar without research-based proof. An alternate explanation for hyperactive behavior is that the opportunity to play with friends, games and special snacks combine to energize excitable children. Staff from the Mayo Clinic report that no scientific evidence validates that sugar ingestion causes hyperactivity in children. When a parent discerns positive changes in a child's behavior whose diet is restricted, it is possible that the parent behaves differently toward the child. The parent's behavioral changes may modify the child's behavior.
Implications for Parents
Although sugar does not cause hyperactivity, there are reasons to monitor sugar in your child's diet. High-sugar foods are associated with tooth decay and obesity. Foods should be prepared with as little sugar as possible. Sugar's appeal can easily cause your child to replace healthy food choices with treats. Instead, focus on a diet that contains fruits, vegetables, grains and healthy fats.
References
- MedlinePlus: Hyperactivity and Sugar
- American Dietetic Association: Does Sugar Make Kids Hyperactive?
- MayoClinic.com; Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children; Feb. 10, 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder/Attention Deficit Disorder
- Ask the Dietician; Hyperactivity and ADHD; Joanne Larsen
- MayoClinic.com; ADHD Diet: Do Food Additives Cause Hyperactivity?; John E. Huxsahl, M.D.; Nov. 6, 2009
