Medical myths: Does sugar make children hyperactive?

Most parents are convinced that sugar causes hyperactivity in children. Surprisingly, scientific evidence does not back up this theory.

Any parent would tell you that seeing children fuelling up on sugar-laden cake, lollies and soft drinks at a birthday party is a sure-fire recipe for a bunch of rampaging hyperactive kids.

The connection between sugar and hyperactivity is one of the most popular food-behaviour myths going around, yet it is one that has been well and truly busted by science.

Where there’s sugar, there must be hyperactive kids – or so says conventional wisdom.