Research: sugar doesn't actually make kids hyper. That's your perception.

(WJBK) - Long after the costumes are shoved in a drawer, the Halloween haul will linger. And as the kids indulge in all the treats, how does it affect their behavior?

Many think sugar makes their kids hyper, but we're here busting that myth.

"The research that's been done, despite of what parents say, shows that over the years there has been no scientific correlation between eating sugary foods and hyperactivity," says Dr. Stacy Leatherwood Cannon.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1995 looked at kids who ate sugar versus those who got a placebo.

"What the research showed was that there was no difference in those kids who were exposed to sugar verses those who were not exposed to sugar," she says.

So why is it a seemingly universal belief that sugar leads to unruly behavior?

Another study published in the Physchology Journal finds parents are more likely to perceive their children to be hyperactive after a sweet treat, when, in fact, it's the surroundings and not the sweets.

"If you think about it, kids are at a party or if their friend's over and they're having sugary things, they're going to be more hyper because they have friends around, or people around, that's creating a festive environment or more active environment," says Dr. Leatherwood Cannon.

Dr. Leatherwood Cannon says her real concern is the effect of sugar on teeth and weight. So, freeze the candy and limit it to a few peices a day.