What happens to your children when they drink soft drinks every day? A new study reveals that violent behavior is only the beginning.
A new study published this week, conducted by a partnership of the University of Columbia, Vermont University, and the Harvard School of Public Health revealed that children who consume soft drinks – even just one per day – may suffer from problematic behavior, including that expressed through ADHD, aggression, and a tendency to get into conflicts.
The effect of these sodas, with the highest per-person consumption in the United States, was previously observed among teenagers, whereby studies linked suicidal and aggressive tendencies with consuming soft drinks. This recent study examined the influence of these drinks in younger children as well.
Over 3000 children aged 5 to 20 years in major cities across the US participated in the study. Of these, 43% consumed at least one soda per day, and 4% of the children consumed more than 4 per day. Any increase in the amount of the soft drinks caused an increase in violent and aggressive behavior. Many children’s behavior deteriorated and communication problems were observed when expression through aggression and violence increased.
An important detail about the study was that its participants were raised by single mothers living separately from their partners. The children evaluated were supported by social services, and most of them experienced or witnessed domestic violence. The mothers were asked to report the drink consumption while also reporting their behavior. With every soft drink consumed, an aggressive behavior and its severity was recognized and reported by the mothers.
Even after taking into consideration all of the social and demographic factors (the family’s socio-economic status, postpartum depression in some of the mothers, lack of a paternal figure in the children’s life, and far-from-ideal living conditions), the most amazing correlation discovered was that the chances of destroying things that belonged to others and getting into a physical fight were higher in children who consumed over 4 soft drinks a day.
Although the study has yet to confirm the nature of the relationship between the consumption of soft drinks and behavior problems, the clear and direct conclusion is that restricting or completely prohibiting children’s consumption of soft drinks might reduce the chance of them developing violent behavior.
May it not be the case that parents who allow their small child to consume more than 4 soft rinks a day may lack parenting skills somewhat? This may also be why these children display violent tendencies.
TRUE FACTS STOP ANY SWEET FIZZY DRINKS