Violence by sugary soft drinks?

Study: Increased violence with high consumption of soft drinks

10/26/2011

Teenagers who consume many sugary soft drinks tend to be more likely to commit violence than their peers. In a comprehensive study, US scientists investigated the connection between soft drink consumption and the violence of young people. The result was as clear as we were surprised: teens who drank more than five doses of sugary soft drinks per week were up to 15 percent more involved in violent altercations than peers who consumed less soft drinks.

Carbonated and sugary soft drinks as a cause of violence?
Researchers led by Professor David Hemenway of Harvard University's Health Faculty surveyed 1,878 high school students between the ages of 14 and 18 as part of their study to explore the links between soft drink use and youth violence , All study participants came from the Boston downtown area, which is known for its - compared to the suburbs - significantly increased crime rate. According to statements by the US researchers, a large proportion of the study participants were of Latin American or Afro-American descent; the minority were Asians or Whites. The scientists questioned the adolescents about their consumption of carbonated and sugary soft drinks that are not offered as a diet drink. In addition, the study also assessed whether the adolescents consumed alcohol or tobacco, wore a gun, and were already violent in the past. The family background of the young people was taken into account.

Close connection between soft drink consumption and violence
According to the US researchers, the violence of young people who consumed more than five doses of carbonated and sugary soft drinks per week was between nine and 15 percent higher than their counterparts who consumed fewer corresponding soft drinks. Study leader David Hemenway emphasized that the current study is a „close connection“ confirmed between the consumption of soft drinks and the violence of young people. There is an increased willingness to use violence „not only her peers, but also against relationship partners and siblings“, the US scientist told the news agency AFP. According to David Hemenway, it was „frightening“ determine, „how clear the connection“ between soft drink consumption and violence. However, researchers have not yet been able to explain whether the consumption of sugar-containing soft drinks is actually the cause or possibly only a sign of violent behavior. For this reason, further research is needed to analyze how the relationship between soft drink consumption and violence comes about.

Violent by soft drinks?
Comparing the subjects who consumed no or just one can of soft drink per week and those who drank 14 or more cans of soft drinks was scary, the US scientists said. For example, 23 percent of adolescents who rarely or never consume soft drinks have a gun or a knife regularly with them, 15 percent of whom confirmed violent behavior towards their partners, and 35 percent said they had used force against their peers , Anyone who is concerned about the social behavior of young people in this number, for the information of juvenile soft drink consumers are hard to believe. As many as 43 percent of adolescents who drank 14 cans of soft drink a week regularly declared they had a weapon, 27 percent of them have used violence against their partners, and well over half (58 percent) have been violent towards their peers. On average, readiness for violence increased with consumption of sugary soft drinks by nine to 15 percent, said the US scientists. According to David Hemenway, current findings confirm the findings of previous studies that have already identified links between increased sugar intake and social behavioral difficulties. Similarly, similar correlations with violence have been demonstrated in relation to alcohol and tobacco consumption.

So far no causal connection confirmed
However, whether there is a causal connection between the consumption of sugary soft drinks and the willingness to use violence may be questioned. Although correlations can be statistically proven, this does not necessarily indicate that soft drink consumption is the cause of violence. For example, in families with poorer social backgrounds, unhealthy diets with increased soft drink consumption could be the order of the day, and at the same time the bad environment could have an impact on the youth's willingness to use violence. Here, both the increase in soft drink consumption and the willingness to use violence would simply be the result of the personal environment. (Fp)

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Picture: motograph