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Effects of Sugar on Hyperactivity

Hyperactivity is defined as excessive movement and impulsiveness. Hyperactivity is also characterized by poor attention span and distractibility. Many assume that a cause and effect relationship exists between eating sugar and displaying hyperactive behavior. However, research does not support this assumption.

  1. Research

    • According to Parenting.com, numerous studies have shown that sugar does not cause hyperactivity. The Cornell Center for Materials Research supports this fact and adds that beliefs about sugar causing hyperactivity often leads to incorrect assumptions about hyperactive behavior occurring when sugary foods are eaten.

    Increased Activity Effects

    • According to the National Health Institutes, sugar can have a subtle affect on activity. When a child consumes sugar, blood glucose levels rise and trigger a release of adrenaline. This may cause activity levels to increase slightly for a short period of time. Once the adrenaline begins to fall activity levels will decrease.

    Calming Effects

    • The Palm Beach School District asserts that sugar actually produces a calming effect rather than hyperactivity. Baby Center notes that sugar water is often used in hospitals to calm babies during medical procedures.

    Misconceptions

    • According to the Cornell Center for Materials Research, people may perceive children to be more hyperactive when they consume sugar simply because they believe that sugar causes hyperactivity. Also, sugary treats are often served at parties or other occasions that trigger excitability in children, leading parents to believe that the sugar causes hyperactivity when it was actually the even itself that caused the hyperactivity.

    Avoiding Hyperactivity

    • The NIH asserts that eating a diet with lots of fiber will keep adrenaline levels stable so that burst of hyperactivity are avoided.

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