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The Impact of Sugar on Children

Though parents may indulge a child's "sweet tooth" because they think it's harmless, excess sugar can have a negative impact on a child's development. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a major contributing factor of childhood obesity is the availability of sugared drinks on public school campuses. Processed sugar in a number of common foods such as mayonnaise and bread also can have negative effects on childhood development.

  1. Obesity

    • Sugared beverages, which include fruit juice, soft drinks and sports drinks, contribute to weight gain in children, especially those who are not physical active. These are typically high-calorie drinks that do not curb appetites, so children can drink significant amounts without feeling full. Furthermore, children who regularly consume snacks such as cookies, ice cream, chocolate biscuits and candy, are at a higher risk of becoming obese. The danger with these types of habits is that children who develop unhealthy food preferences may find it harder to alter those choices when they become adults.

    Tooth Decay

    • Sugar can harm children's teeth. Tooth decay occurs when the sugar children eat interacts with saliva in their mouths that contains bacteria. This feeds on the sugar and creates unhealthy plaque, a sticky film that coats their teeth. Babies and toddlers who carry drink bottles filled with fruit juice, are at risk for tooth decay because their mouths are constantly filled with sugar. Older children who consume an excessive amount of foods such as soda, chocolate and hard candy can develop cavities and gum disease such as gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gums.

    Higher Risk of Heart Disease

    • In a 2010 study by the CDC, a sample of more than 2,000 teenagers found that those who consumed the highest amounts of sugar, lowered their high-density lipoproteins -- also known as HDL or good cholesterol -- levels. Conversely, they increased their low-density lipoprotein -- commonly referred to as LDL or bad cholesterol. Low HDL and high LDL are major factors that contribute to heart disease. Though the study did not indicate that children will develop heart illness in their youth, it did sound a warning that copious consumption of sugar in childhood, could lead to heart disease in adulthood.

    Depressed Immunity

    • Children who consume excessive amounts of refined sugars -- such as those found in white sugar, corn syrup and honey -- may experience a suppression of their immune system. This is due to the adverse effect that sugar has on the capability of white blood cells to engage with harmful bacteria in a child's body. Dr. William Sears, an associate clinical professor of pediatrics at University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, said studies have shown that this compromised immunity remains in effect for as many as five hours after the refined sugar is consumed. This means that children are at a higher risk of becoming sick during that period of time.

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