The Effect of Sugar on Behavior or Cognition in Children
We checked this card's citation and the finding we state against the source's own page or record in October 2026.
What it found
Across blinded studies in which children ate a known amount of sugar or a sweetener placebo, sugar did not affect children's behavior or cognitive performance. The authors suggest parents' strong belief may come from expectation and association, and say a small effect, or effects on some children, can't be ruled out.
What kind of study it is
- Design
- Meta-analysis
- Weight
- A synthesis: it pools or weighs many studies, so it carries the most weight on the evidence meter.
- Sample
- 23 blinded, placebo-controlled studies from 16 reports
- Who
- School-age children (K–12)
Read it
doi.org/10.1001/jama.1995.03530200053037
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Cited in the Library
Cite this study
Wolraich, M. L., Wilson, D. B., & White, J. W. (1995). The effect of sugar on behavior or cognition in children. JAMA, 274(20), 1617–1621. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1995.03530200053037
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