Study Reveals an Unexpected Risk of Sweets to Children’s Health

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Surrey and published in the journal Translational Psychiatry found that high sugar consumption during early childhood may be associated with an increased risk of anxiety disorders later in life, particularly among women.

The researchers based their findings on an analysis of data from more than 45,000 UK Biobank participants born between 1951 and 1956, a period during which post-war restrictions on sugar sales were gradually lifted. This allowed them to compare different levels of sugar exposure during pregnancy and the first two years of life. The lowest risk of anxiety was observed among those who spent a longer period under sugar consumption restrictions.

The researchers also observed differences in the structure of several brain regions among individuals who consumed less sugar during childhood. These individuals also showed a lower tendency to consume sweet foods in adulthood.

The association with depression, however, was less clear. The researchers stressed that the findings do not prove that sugar directly causes anxiety, but highlight the potential long-term impact of early-life nutrition.