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Joe Wicks says junk food causes ADHD

360 replies

RiffRaffBananas · 12/04/2024 09:25

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-13292511/amp/Joe-Wicks-blames-ultra-processed-junk-explosion-children-ADHD-reveals-ran-sugar-kid-thinks-love-Sunny-Delight-Wagon-Wheels-jam-sandwiches-caused-behavioural-issues.html

I politely disagree with Joe. I have a very health conscious friend who cooks from scratch, plenty of vegetables and a Mediterranean diet as recommended by all healthcare professionals and has two children. One has ADHD and one doesn’t.

Has Joe jumped the shark on this one?

Joe Wicks blames ultra-processed junk for explosion of kids with ADHD

The nation's favourite work-out guru, nicknamed the Body Coach warned 'every child' now appears to have an ADHD diagnosis.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-13292511/amp/Joe-Wicks-blames-ultra-processed-junk-explosion-children-ADHD-reveals-ran-sugar-kid-thinks-love-Sunny-Delight-Wagon-Wheels-jam-sandwiches-caused-behavioural-issues.html

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
Crikeyalmighty · 12/04/2024 11:05

It's common knowledge that a ton of coloured sugar (haribo im looking at you)!makes many kids hyperactive- I think though ADHD is more complicated than that

YouG0GlenCoco · 12/04/2024 11:03

And how long did it take Joe Wickes to complete all of the necessary qualifications and gain experience in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders?!

Bewareofthisonetoo · 12/04/2024 11:03

YABu -lots of science that diet among other factors impacts health - both physical and mental.

SoupDragon · 12/04/2024 11:02

until this, I always thought he had ADHD himself!

I can see how diet etc could create ADHD symptoms or exacerbate them but cause actual ADHD? No.

fieldsofbutterflies · 12/04/2024 11:01

RiffRaffBananas · 12/04/2024 11:00

Gosh, this has taken off.

My DD is sensitive to preservatives and E numbers and those definitely affect her mood. But that’s as far as it goes.

Are you going to address the click bait title at all?

RiffRaffBananas · 12/04/2024 11:00

Gosh, this has taken off.

My DD is sensitive to preservatives and E numbers and those definitely affect her mood. But that’s as far as it goes.

OP posts:
the80sweregreat · 12/04/2024 11:00

I like Joe and attempt his ' senior ' workouts on u tube , but these statements are really nothing new. Lots of people believe there is a link with diet to so many ailments and conditions and many other doctors and professionals say the same. We are all actually meant to eat 10 pieces of fruit / veg a day , but they originally said 5 as that might be easier to achieve for people ( as one example) and now a push to eat less UPF foods and on it goes.
I know I'm not a healthy eater myself and overweight , but I do try to limit the junk , bit of exercise , not drink too much alcohol, don't smoke , but I'm also aware I could do more.

VirtualRealitee · 12/04/2024 10:59

AnneLovesGilbert · 12/04/2024 10:22

Did you read the article?

He claimed that a reliance on junk food can lead to lack of energy and a struggle to focus in young people.

True.

”And then we're taught this is what kids eat, kids need these snacks in their lunchbox, this is what they have for dinner. […] So, we're kind of being confused and led down this path that adults have adult food and kids have kids menus and kids food.

And that's the issue we've got because people are cooking less than ever and relying on these processed foods and it's a shame because kids are getting their energy sucked out of them.

”They're struggling at school with focus, they're gaining weight, and probably having really low energy crashes because these foods are just not going to give your children the energy they need to sustain a healthy day — a balanced level of energy.”

All of that is also true. He’s not claiming ADHD doesn’t exist or that it’s caused by junk food. He’s saying his own behaviour when young was caused or exacerbated by a poor diet and I think suggests he’d have diagnosed with ND if he was young now.

The Daily Mail relies on its readers having poor comprehension and a lack of critical thinking skills.

And as you can see here, a fair few posters won't have disappointed.

fieldsofbutterflies · 12/04/2024 10:57

raffegiraffe · 12/04/2024 10:55

ADHD is a genetic condition

And many genetic conditions have symptoms that can be improved with diet and exercise, which is what he said if you actually read the article and not the click bait headline.

I really don't know that's such an outlandish suggestion.

Daftasabroom · 12/04/2024 10:56

YoureTheTop · 12/04/2024 10:51

@Daftasabroom , but @AnnaKristie doesn't say it causes it, only that there is a link.

How is it linked?

raffegiraffe · 12/04/2024 10:55

ADHD is a genetic condition

hamstersarse · 12/04/2024 10:54

JW triggers people.
People who don't like to take responsibility for their own health, and have offloaded their personal responsibility to the 'experts'

MrsSkylerWhite · 12/04/2024 10:54

Oh, he’s qualified as a doctor? Well done Joe.

Justrolledmyeyesoutloud · 12/04/2024 10:53

Anyotherdude · 12/04/2024 10:50

I’m fascinated by the number of people who are showing such intense dislike for someone who got so many people out of the rut of unhealthy habits during lockdown. I mean, come on - your man got an MBE out of his own initiative!
Do people on here just hate those who make a success of themselves?

Me too - l love Joe Wicks and find his honesty when talking about his own battles so refreshing.

hamstersarse · 12/04/2024 10:52

Daftasabroom · 12/04/2024 10:49

No it doesn't show that at all. It shows that UPF and sugars can exacerbate the effects of ADHD, not a causal link ADHD as your post suggests. You need to be really careful with the wording.

Edited

I never said CAUSED. The article posted in OP didn't say CAUSED. JW never said CAUSED. Op said caused.

I genuinely think nutritional therapies are just too hard for people and this is why people react this way. The 'pop a pill' culture is real.

mitogoshi · 12/04/2024 10:52

The issues far as I see it is that lifestyle factors (the polite way of putting it) can cause symptoms that are like adhd but whether they can cause permanent changes in the brain is not clear. I've read reports that neglect can cause symptoms which appear to be autistic traits but it is the same as autism which is spontaneous/inherited (and in my humble opinion we don't really understand and it the future we'll have multiple conditions which have different names!)

YoureTheTop · 12/04/2024 10:51

@Daftasabroom , but @AnnaKristie doesn't say it causes it, only that there is a link.

YoureTheTop · 12/04/2024 10:50

@FieldInWhichFucksAreGrownIsBarren , OP didn't use it correctly IMO. It's usually used to describe TV shows.

Anyotherdude · 12/04/2024 10:50

I’m fascinated by the number of people who are showing such intense dislike for someone who got so many people out of the rut of unhealthy habits during lockdown. I mean, come on - your man got an MBE out of his own initiative!
Do people on here just hate those who make a success of themselves?

Daftasabroom · 12/04/2024 10:49

AnnaKristie · 12/04/2024 10:41

Plenty of studies show a link between upf, sugar and ADHD. This is just one of them.

https://www.ion.ac.uk/news/how-can-nutrition-help-to-manage-adhd

No it doesn't show that at all. It shows that UPF and sugars can exacerbate the effects of ADHD, not a causal link ADHD as your post suggests. You need to be really careful with the wording.

FieldInWhichFucksAreGrownIsBarren · 12/04/2024 10:43

Who even is this person other than a knob who jumped at the chance to become famous during lockdown by getting bored women and kids to do his stupid exercises? So no, I won't be taking any notice of the drivel that spills out of his mouth.

Also never heard the term Jump the shark 🤣

Jk987 · 12/04/2024 10:42

Craftier · 12/04/2024 09:28

Joe wicks is a fucking gobshite who needs to fuck off.

What qualifications has he got to comment on this?

Really? Talk about harsh. He's a human being who's done an enormous amount of good.

Willyoujustbequiet · 12/04/2024 10:41

hamstersarse · 12/04/2024 09:37

I don't think there is a question that you "are what you eat"

Tonnes of processed sugary foods and crap are shown in studies to contribute to higher rates of ADHD

I think it would be basic common sense that if you have a child with ADHD that you feed them non-processed whole foods

But that's not the same as causing it.

You can't cause a neurological disorder through diet.

It's like saying chocolate causes Type 1 diabetes.

Lentilweaver · 12/04/2024 10:38

I am all in favour of improving diets and my DC grew up without any UPF because we don't eat a typically British diet. But Joe Wicks seems to be going beyond that?

I dont mind Jamie Oliver except for his business chicanery.

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