University Assignment: Social Determinants of Health - Sugar Effects

This assignment delves into the common belief that sugar consumption causes hyperactivity in children, examining the scientific evidence and prevailing misconceptions. The paper references studies and news reports to analyze the relationship between sugar intake and children's behavior, particularly in social settings like birthday and Halloween parties. It also discusses the role of adrenaline and the myth of sugar causing hyperactivity. The assignment further explores the concept of hypoglycemia and its effects on muscle fatigue, as well as the perpetuation of the myth among the adult population. Ultimately, the assignment aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the issue, backed by research and real-world examples.

Running head: SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
Sugar makes children hyperactive
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
Answer 1
According to the reports published in Loh et al. (2017), intake of sugar does not
appear to cast any significant impact on the behaviour of the children. The same results were
confirmed by the study conducted by Azadbakht and Esmaillzadeh (2012). According to
them, fast food and sweet delivery patterns has no direct association with the attention
deficient hyperactive disorder in children. However, the prevailing myth among the parents
mostly arises from the fact that sugar is frequently linked as the main attraction in the
birthday and Halloween parties. This is because birthday parties are inherently linked with
cakes and chocolates whereas Halloween means candies. In this occasion, children are likely
to remain hyper active like bouncing off the walls or running as they are in companionship
with a group of population belonging to their same age group. However, these manifestations
of energetic or hyperactive activities among the children is mostly due the adrenaline rush
mediated via the secretion of adrenaline hormone that they get with the name of the event or
occasion and thus does not have any direct connection with the consumption of sugar
(LiveScience, 2016). However, according to the latest news published in BBC news (2013),
in an attempt to hold calmer and relaxing birthday parties, some parents are now making
sugar-free birthday cakes.
Answer 2
The ideas of the parents in relation to consumption of sugar and its associated
hyperactivity among the children are mostly reinforced via watching the children in those
hyperactive circumstances. The misconception generally comes from the idea the increase in
the blood sugar levels translate into hyperactive behaviour. It is true that person suffering
from low blood sugar level (hypoglycaemia) gets an energy boost upon consumption of
glucose (sugar), According to Del Coso et al. (2012), hypoglycaemia results in decrease

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SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
availability of glucose in the muscle cells and thus resulting in muscle fatigue. In Australia,
the majority of the population suffers from diabetes and hence hypoglycaemia arising from
sugar restricted diet plan and subsequent generation of muscle fatigue is common. Moreover,
in such cases intake of glucose helps in instant recovery. But in case of children, it is
completely a different scenario because a healthy child with no significant reports of low
blood sugar level cannot develop sudden hyperactivity disorders or hyperactive behaviours
under the influence of high sugar consumption (LiveScience, 2016). But such increased
prevalence of diabetes among the society has generated perpetration of the myth among the
adult population and such that they apply the same concept even in case of children.

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SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
References
Azadbakht, L., & Esmaillzadeh, A. (2012). Dietary patterns and attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder among Iranian children. Nutrition, 28(3), 242-249.
BBC News. (2013). Does sugar makes children hyperactive? Accessed on: 20th March 2018.
Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20130722-does-sugar-make-kids-
hyperactive
Del Coso, J., Gonzalez-Millan, C., Salinero, J. J., Abian-Vicen, J., Soriano, L., Garde, S., &
Perez-Gonzalez, B. (2012). Muscle damage and its relationship with muscle fatigue
during a half-iron triathlon. PloS one, 7(8), e43280.
Geggel, L., (2016). Does Sugar Make Kids Hyper? LifeScience. Accessed on: 20th March
2018. Retrieved from: https://www.livescience.com/55754-does-sugar-make-kids-
hyper.html
Loh, P. R., Hayden, G., Vicary, D., Mancini, V., Martin, N., & Piek, J. P. (2017). Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: an Aboriginal perspective on diagnosis and
intervention. Journal of Tropical Psychology, 7.
Ly, T. T., Maahs, D. M., Rewers, A., Dunger, D., Oduwole, A., & Jones, T. W. (2014).
Assessment and management of hypoglycemia in children and adolescents with
diabetes. Pediatr Diabetes, 15(Suppl 20), 180-192.