Junk the burger on your plate, say doctors

new delhi: got a child who is notoriously inattentive, especially when it comes to studies? are teachers forever ticking off your child for rowdiness and misbehaviour. take a look at what's on his plate. it may hold the key to some of the problems. and it may just be loaded with chocolates, chips and fries, fats, colas, burgers and biscuits. it's what doctors term `junk'.and junior can't seem to get enough of it. but junk food could be the cause behind behavioural changes among children. psychologists link such eating habits to disorders such as attention deficiency syndrome (add) and the attention deficiency hyperactive syndrome (adhd). hyperactivity among children is on the increase, something of concern to both parents and teachers. says delhi psychiatric society president dr sandeep vohra: ``if untreated, children with adhd grow up to be anti-social, have lifelong depression and are found to drift into drug abuse.'' and though there are a number of factors which cause this disorder, excessive junk food promotes them, stress psychologists. cambridge school teacher subodh sinha laments most parents give their children processed foods like potato chips for tiffin. ``the trend is to eat burgers and drink sweet colas, all bad for the child's mind. the children don't want to be disciplined and are turning rowdier by the day,'' she observes. according to her, noodles, especially the instant variety fall into the same category. ``it is a proven fact that a constituent salt, ajinomoto, is harmful for the body,'' she added. with busy working mothers, children rarely get a headstart, nutrition wise. breakfast is usually limited to quick snacks and a glass of milk. at least, 80 per cent of schoolchildren leave for school, with just a glass of milk. ``there is no time for elaborate breakfasts. moreover, she doesn't want to eat early in the morning,'' says the mother of 10-year-old rasika gupta. consultant clinical psychologist jayanti dutta analyses the trend: ``let's not blame everything on the working mother. it is just one of the hazards of lifestyle changes. with smaller families, most people can afford to eat out.'' if it's convenient, it wins hands down. and so, it is thumbs up for patties and pizzas, burgers and biscuits. this trend is socially conforming, as well. everybody is eating out, so what's the problem, ask parents of schoolgoing children. adds dr dutta: ``it serves two purposes. one, it pacifies the child and secondly, it is a good substitute for socialising and breaking the monotony.'' that's what's given rise to a popular adage: ``a burger a day keeps the frown at bay''. parents also say it is easy to give in to such demands and it always brings a smile on the face of children. ``working parents who are not able to give too much time to their children feel guilty about it and give in to the demands easily,'' said sinha. for dr jitender nagpal, it is the disappearance of bonding, a feature of the dining table that is of concern. junk food looks gorgeous, appetising and children virtually drool over it. it eclipses food given by the mother. and what happens if a child is denied such food. the result could well be emotional distress which could lead to psychological problems. certain colours and additives in processed foodstuffs play havoc with the moods of children, warns dr dutta. psychologists are not talking through their hat if they stress the harmful effects of junk food. there has been intensive research into energy brain reaction due to foods of convenience like candies and hotdogs. they have found that overexposure to sweeteners leads to hyperkinesis or overactivity. ``for those who are biologically disposed to add or adhd, frequent exposure to these foods can precipitate matters,'' said dr nagpal. it is a proven fact that the type of food directly affects neurochemicals. dr nagpal has conducted around 80 workshops in schools of delhi and surrounding areas that has reached some 15,000 children. the mental health education awareness initiative has been going on for the past two years. the symptoms may sound common enough - misbehaviour in school or home, a rebellious attitude and rowdiness. try changing the dietary pattern at home, and it may be immensely helpful, suggests dr nagpal. in fact, for those children suffering from attention deficit, dr nagpal prescribes regimentation of food ``to bring down activity.'' it may not be right to say that junk food causes hyperactivity, but it definitely promotes it, stress psychologists. another instance of the importance of a balanced diet: deficiency of nicotinamide or vitamin b3 is directly co-related with impulsive and impatient behaviour. go green do you have a child at home who is routinely pulled up for misbehaviour at school and for rebelliousness at home? take a look at his diet. it may be loaded with junk food that promotes such behaviour, warn psychologists. doctors suggest you should change dietary patterns at home and see the difference. it may prove to be really helpful.