this post was submitted on 17 Jun 2026
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Twenty years ago, I met a couple with a young son who decided not to let the kid have sugar. I wonder how that might have worked out for the kid now that he's grown.

I assume the kid hit 18 and went on a sugar binge as soon as he tasted it the first time.

Anyone have experience with this?

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[–] cannedtuna@lemmy.world 45 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) (3 children)

Counterpoint, I see parents giving sodas to toddlers all the time. Reminiscent of that scene in Idiocracy where a parent tries to get their baby to drink Brawndo.

But sugar can cause a slew of problems in kids like childhood obesity, diabetes and ~~hyperactivity~~ mood swings due to changes in blood sugar levels. The sugar industry has done its best to convince people it’s harmless while packing cheap foods full of it to make it taste better. Countries that consume large amounts of cheap foods like the US have higher obesity rates.

Blah blah moderation and all that, but when all you can afford is the cheap shit it’s harder to avoid sugars. Kids finding they might have a sweet tooth when they get older is a tiny concern.

[–] meejle@piefed.world 18 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

FWIW, it's a myth that sugar causes hyperactivity. But it's been shown in studies that parents who believe the myth are more likely to perceive their children's behaviour as hyperactive when they've had sugar.

I think there is evidence that some artificial food additives can have that effect in some people, though.

[–] cannedtuna@lemmy.world 6 points 18 hours ago

You’re right, it should probably say mood swings due to changes in blood sugar levels instead as that’s more accurate

[–] binarytobis@lemmy.world 3 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

My mom kept the fridge stocked with sodas when I was a kid, mostly because I had friends over often and she wanted them to feel welcome. I usually drank soda because it was convenient; quick, cold, no dishes. Over years I downed thousands of sodas. It didn’t even occur to me that I didn’t even like it that much.

Now I drink so much water. I’ll have a soda a few times a year, but if I’m thirsty water is king. I feel like a kid who got caught smoking forced to smoke a whole pack.

[–] trolololol@lemmy.world 2 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

My family growing up went to having 1l of coke for everyone to share on Sundays, when shit was super expensive, to 600ml or more per person per meal over about 10 years when it got cheaper. I got myself to the point that I would go to a friend's house, and feel thirsty and refuse to drink water, which was the only thing available. That's when I noticed my family had a problem.

I didn't quit cold turkey, but when I reached 26 I remember drinking soft drinks less than once per year. Best decision ever. My mum didn't go over weight not sure how, but developed diabetes. Only then she switched to diet coke, but kept drinking that like I drink water.

[–] binarytobis@lemmy.world 1 points 10 hours ago

Zero calorie soda tastes good, which makes me not trust it at all.