Daily sweets linked with aggression
The first long-term study of the effects of childhood diet has shown that children who eat sweets every day become more aggressive adults.
The study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry analysed almost 17,500 participants in the 1970 British Cohort Study and found that 10-year-olds who ate sweets daily were much more likely to be convicted of violent crimes between the ages of 29 and 34. Researchers from Cardiff University found that 69 per cent of the participants who were violent at that age had eaten sweets and chocolate nearly every day during childhood, compared to 42 per cent who were non-violent. The link between confectionery consumption and violence remained after controlling other factors but the researchers have suggested the changes in behaviour may not be linked to sugar or artificial flavourings. Lead researcher Dr Simon Moore said: "Our favoured explanation is that giving children sweets and chocolate regularly may stop them learning how to wait to obtain something they want. "Not being able to defer gratification may push them towards more impulsive behaviour, which is strongly associated with delinquency." The researchers concluded: "This association between confectionery consumption and violence needs further attention. "Targeting resources at improving children's diet may improve health and reduce aggression." |
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