Does sugar cause hyperactivity in children?

Controlled trials have not shown that sugar causes hyperactivity; the effect is largely parental expectation plus the exciting settings where sugar is served. Sugar still matters for dental and metabolic health, just not for behaviour.

Blinded trials, where parents did not know whether the child had received sugar, found no behavioural difference — but parents who believed sugar had been given rated their children as more hyperactive.

The more likely drivers at a party are excitement, disrupted routine, crowding and tiredness.