Sweet-Loving Kids More Likely to Have Family History of Alcoholism

Children who have an extreme sweet tooth also may be at elevated risk of becoming alcoholics, according to researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia.

LiveScience reported Feb. 10 that researcher Julie Mennella and colleagues studied sweetness preference among 300 children ages 5-12. They found that the children who had a family history of alcoholism and had symptoms of depression were also the most likely to express a preference for intense sweetness.

“We know that sweet taste is rewarding to all kids and makes them feel good,” said Mennella. “In addition, certain groups of children may be especially attracted to intense sweetness due to their underlying biology.”

The study was published online in the journal Addiction.