Candy-gobbling kids may turn violent as adults

Study: Many who ate too many sweets were arrested for violence by age 34


LONDON - Willy Wonka would be horrified. Children who eat too much candy may be more likely to be arrested for violent behavior as adults, new research suggests.

British experts studied more than 17,000 children born in 1970 for about four decades. Of the children who ate candies or chocolates daily at age 10, 69 percent were later arrested for a violent offense by the age of 34. Of those who didn't have any violent clashes, 42 percent ate sweets daily.

The study was published in the October issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry. It was paid for by Britain's Economic and Social Research Council.
The researchers said the results were interesting, but that more studies were needed to confirm the link. "It's not that the sweets themselves are bad, it's more about interpreting how kids make decisions," said Simon Moore of the University of Cardiff, one of the paper's authors.

Moore said parents who consistently bribe their children into good behavior with candies and chocolates could be doing harm. That might prevent kids from learning how to defer gratification, leading to impulsive behavior and violence.

Even after Moore and colleagues controlled for other variables like different parenting skills and varying social and economic backgrounds, they found a significant link between childhood consumption of sweets and violent behavior in adulthood.

Previous studies have found better nutrition leads to better behavior, in both children and adults.

Moore said his results were not strong enough to recommend parents stop giving their children candies and chocolates. "This is an incredibly complex area," he said. "It's not fair to blame it on the candy."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33091821/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition


Lies give them candy!

Correlation does not equal causation.

Moved to right section =3

We're screwed when Hana turns 30 O_O

*Plans of breaking of friendship at 29*

In short: Bring up your kids properly or they turn into monsters.

Oh my xp! The chances aren't looking too hot for me..

For anyone that couldn't tell.. I was the type who blew all her money on sweets and Pokemon cards as a child.. oh and power balls.. and let's not forget the chocolate tin that I've grew up living with..

*looks at Abbi*