Another Key to Childhood Behavioral Problems: Avoid This at All Costs

Aggression.  Inattention.  These issues just seem to be getting more and more prevalent in kids all the Time these days.  Last month, I told you how inadequate sleep can greatly increase the risk of aggressive behavior in children.  Recent research has uncovered another culprit in this growing problem:  soft drinks.

Researchers at Columbia University in New York examined almost 3000 children, looking at the average soda consumption and behavioral habits of five-year-olds.  They used maternal reports of the amount of soda consumed, and an assessment called the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).  The results?  Even one soda per day significantly increased problem behaviors.  And with higher soda consumption, the aggression just gets worse.  Four soft drinks per day doubled the score for inattention and withdrawn behavior, and almost quintupled the aggression score, compared to kids who drank no soda.  These differences remained significant even after controlling for other factors, such as intake of other sweets, level of physical activity, and maternal depression.

Interestingly, the researchers did not differentiate among types of soft drinks: regular versus diet, caffeinated versus decaffeinated.  So it is unclear whether this is an issue with sugar, caffeine, or just a marker of an overall poor diet.  Not surprisingly, the American Beverage Association capitalized on this uncertainty to state that this study does not prove that soft drinks cause any problem behaviors.  Sure.  Just like they have said that artificial sweeteners are a good alternative to sugar, when science has shown that diet soda is linked to dangerously increased stroke risk and diabetes risk in adults.

To me, this is just another reason to say that pop is an unnecessary health risk, no matter what your age.

Sugila S et al.  Soft Drinks Consumption Is Associated with Behavior Problems in 5-Year-Olds.  J Peds 21 August 2013.

Are You Missing This Important Supplement for Childhood Behavioral Problems?

Behavioral problems in children often start during the preschool years.  Making sure that kids have a healthy, balanced diet, as well as plenty of physical activity, can make a big difference in kids' behavior.  One "supplement" that is becoming more overlooked these days is one of the foundations of health in naturopathic medicine: sleep.

Recent research from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City (1) examined almost 9000 preschool aged children, and looked at the relationship between sleep and behavior.  They found that kids who average fewer than 9.44 hours of sleep per night have a 30 to 40% higher rate of anger, impulsivity, overactivity, and tantrums.  Significantly, these kids were also 80% more likely to be aggressive.  More than two hours of television viewing per night was also associated with worse overall behavior.

Inadequate sleep for adults may result in mood problems, increased pain sensitivity, and even a greater risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.  Now, we have further evidence of just one more way that sleep is critical for kids as well.  Follow these guidelines to ensure a good nights rest for your little ones:

• Stick with a scheduled bedtime and wake-up time.  Aim for at least 10 hours of sleep per night.  So if the kids have to be up at 7 AM, make sure they're in bed by 9 PM.
• Turn off all screens (TV, computer, smartphone, tablet, etc.) at least one hour before bedtime.
• Keep the bedroom cool and dark to make falling asleep easier.
• If your child is having trouble falling asleep, consult your naturopathic physician before trying any sleep aid -- even natural ones.

1.  Scharf RJ et al.  Nighttime Sleep Duration and Externalizing Behaviors of Preschool Children.  J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2013;34:384-391.