Eating Candy in Childhood Linked to Adult Crime

[snopes]

What parent hasn't used candy to pacify a cranky child or head off a brewing tantrum? When reasoning, threats and time-outs fail, a sugary treat often does the trick. But while that chocolate-covered balm may be highly effective in the short term, say British scientists, it may be setting youngsters up for problem behavior later. According to a new study, kids who eat too many treats at a young age risk becoming violent in adulthood.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/2009100...08599192734700

[Insensible Crier]

I should be serving about 5 consecutive life sentences by now with all the sweets I got as a kid.

And is anybody else thinking about the ice cream/crime example that shows the difference between correlation and causation?

[Mama Duck]

Originally Posted by Insensible Crier

And is anybody else thinking about the ice cream/crime example that shows the difference between correlation and causation?

Actually, they expand on that in the study. It looks as if they are using candy rates as a springboard to study the issue deeper. They did try to control of other factors. But even the article itself says this is an example of correlation not causation. They want to investigate deeper if already misbehaving children are given candy or if on average, candy is a symptom of "bad parenting" for lack of a better term. Also, not everyone with poor impulse control an lax parenting is going to grow up to be a criminal. And not everyone with an overactive sweet tooth is a would be criminal as well. Statistics and all that. I would love to see what they can really tease out of this.

[Menolly]

Originally Posted by Insensible Crier

I should be serving about 5 consecutive life sentences by now with all the sweets I got as a kid.

I'm loading up the bus now. I figured I'd save everyone some time and just drive myself straight to hell, get it over with. I've got some extra room if anyone's interested.

Men"the only thing my sweet tooth got me is capped teeth"olly