MythBuster: Sugar Makes You Hyper
Hand a kid a cookie, and chances are someone nearby will say, “Uh-oh—here comes the sugar rush!” For decades, parents have believed that sugar makes children hyperactive. It’s an idea so common it feels like fact. After all, kids seem to bounce off the walls after birthday cake and soda. So it must be the sugar, right?
Not really.
The Truth: Sugar Doesn’t Cause Hyperactivity
Despite what many people think, there’s no solid scientific evidence linking sugar intake to hyperactivity in children. Multiple studies have tested this theory—including research funded by the National Institutes of Health—and the results are clear: sugar doesn’t make kids hyper.
In one key study, children were given diets high in sugar, artificial sweeteners, or no sweeteners at all. Researchers, teachers, and parents tracked their behavior. The result? No difference. The kids behaved the same regardless of what they ate.
It’s All in Our Heads (Literally)
So where did this myth come from? Part of it is perception. In one study, parents were told their kids had consumed a sugary drink—even when they hadn’t. The parents still rated their children as more hyper and more excitable. In other words, adults expected hyperactivity and saw what they expected.
Add in the fact that sugar is often eaten during exciting moments—parties, holidays, playdates—and it’s easy to blame the treat rather than the environment.
The Real Effects of Sugar
This doesn’t mean sugar has zero impact. Eating a lot of sugar at once can spike blood sugar, giving a short burst of energy followed by a crash. But that’s not hyperactivity. It’s more like feeling briefly wired, then tired.
Too much sugar can lead to health problems like tooth decay, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. But bouncing off the walls? That’s not sugar’s fault.
So What’s Really Going On?
Many things can affect a child’s energy levels and behavior—sleep, excitement, screen time, hunger, even just being at a party. Sugar is often present during these high-energy situations, but it’s not the cause.
Think about Halloween. Is it the candy that makes kids wild—or the costumes, the running around, and the general chaos of the night?
Bottom Line
Sugar doesn’t cause hyperactivity. Science has put that myth to rest again and again. What we often mistake for a “sugar rush” is more likely excitement, expectations, or simply the context of the moment.
So next time someone blames cupcakes for a kid’s energy, you’ll know better—and maybe help bust the myth for someone else too.
Did you miss our May MythBuster? Read MythBuster: Polaris is the Brightest Star in the Nighttime Sky here! Stay tuned for next month’s myth.