DR. MAX PEMBERTON: Why Joe Wicks is WRONG about nutrition and the real reason kids get ADHD

Fitness coach Joe Wicks has blamed ultra-processed junk food for the explosion of young people diagnosed with ADHD.

Wicks said he “ran on sugar” as a child and thinks his love of food, including Wagon Wheels and jelly sandwiches, caused his behavioral problems.

There is no doubt that food plays a very important role in things like mood. We know that good nutrition is not only closely linked to a healthy body, but also to a healthy mind.

But there is no evidence to show that foods or drinks high in sugar have a real effect on children’s behavior. In fact, this idea has been consistently dismissed as a myth by medical professionals.

A number of double-blind, randomized, controlled trials have been conducted that specifically looked at this claim; none found a link between sugar intake and children’s behavior. Interestingly, in one study, parents were told that their children had been given sugar when in fact they had not, and noted that their children were hyperactive despite this.

It is possible that this myth is based on research into the artificial colorings used in certain carbonated drinks and sweets, which have been shown to cause hyperactivity in susceptible children. It seems this may have caused some confusion, with people wrongly attributing the hyperactivity to the sugar rather than the additives.

In any case, it is believed that food additives play only a minor role in children’s behavior.

There are many more important factors. And I agree with Wicks that there are external factors at play in much of the ADHD epidemic.

I fear that things like smartphones and ‘multi-screening’ (watching TV while also on the phone etc.), together with social media where children are bombarded with short bits of information in quick succession, are responsible for the collapse of the economy. attention span that we seem to be witnessing.

In today’s world, from the moment a child wakes up to the moment they fall asleep, the day is packed with things to do and see. But cramming our children’s lives so full can cause untold damage.

I am deeply concerned about the effects of modern life on the minds of young people. Contrary to claims that sugar causes hyperactivity, research has clearly shown that screen time does do increase the risk of behavioral problems in toddlers. This isn’t remotely surprising to those of us who work in mental health: we always see children who seem unable to sit still, concentrate, or sustain attention for longer than the time needed. is to read an Instagram post.

While it can be comforting for parents to wear labels like ADHD and blame hyperactivity on blood sugar levels (because it provides a seemingly biological explanation for a child’s behavior), we know that important social factors are also at play.

It seems to me no coincidence that the level of attention and behavioral problems in children has increased enormously in line with the rise of technology. When a child’s brain is bombarded non-stop for hours, is it any wonder we’re seeing record levels of attention deficits, hyperactivity and sleep problems?

Tablets and TVs are used as proxy babysitters by harassed parents. I understand why. But it seems ironic that even as we increasingly treat children with kid gloves, never letting them play outside, banning smacking, feeding organic food, and so on, we seem to be creating other dangers.

Consuming high levels of sugar is not good for you; it is linked to a host of health problems, such as obesity and dental problems. But as much as I am a fan of Joe Wicks, it is wrong for him to blame this company for the increasing number of behavioral problems in children.