Children who eat sweets and chocolate every day are more likely to be violent as adults, according to UK researchers.
The Cardiff University study involving 17,500 people is the first into effects of childhood diet on adult violence.
It found 10-year-olds who ate sweets daily were significantly more likely to have a violence conviction by age 34.
Researchers suggested they had not learnt to delay gratification, but other experts said already "difficult" children might be given more sweets.
The researchers looked at data on around 17,500 people and found that 69% of the participants who were violent at the age of 34 had eaten sweets and chocolate nearly every day during childhood, compared to 42% who were non-violent.
Delinquents
This link between confectionery consumption and later aggression remained even after controlling for other factors such as parenting behaviour, the area where the child lived, not having educational qualifications after the age of 16 and whether they had access to a car when they were 34.
The researchers put forward several explanations for the link including the idea that the confectionery makes the adult addicted to certain additives and that these may contribute towards adult aggression.
The study was reported in the British Journal of Psychiatry.
Stunted learning
Dr Simon Moore, who led the study, has carried out previous research on young offenders.
He was aware that they tend to have very poor diets including lots of confectionery - but was intrigued to find the link. Read more...
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