They Say: Lollies Makes Kids Mean

British researchers have found a link between eating lollies as a kid and being violent as adults. A new study in the British Journal of Psychiatry’s October issue claims that kids who eat too many lollies are more likely to be arrested for violence when they grow up.

The findings are based on research that followed more than 17,000 subjects born in 1970 for over four decades. Sixty-nine per cent of the kids who at lollies or chocolate everyday at age 10 had been arrested for violence by the age of 39. For those who hadn’t been in violent clashes, only 42 per cent ate sweets daily.

Now, nobody’s claiming the candy made them do it. But here’s how some are initially interpreting the findings [MSNBC]:

“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 behaviour with candies and chocolates could be doing harm. That might prevent kids from learning how to defer gratification, leading to impulsive behaviour and violence.

Even after controlling for variables like parenting skills and social and economic backgrounds, researchers say the candy-gorging and violence link was strong.

Perhaps their rotting teeth made them act out? Lollies … everyday? Ahhhh, the ’70s.

Photo: sfgate.com