The belief that sugar stunts growth—a claim still echoed in parenting forums and school lunch debates—originates not from solid science but from a tangle of outdated health fears, evolving nutrition advice, and widespread public misinformation. This sugar growth myth found its footing in early 20th-century America, during a time when rising industrialization brought mass-produced foods, changing diets, and a spike in public anxiety over children's health. Pediatricians and public health advocates, reacting to surges in childhood obesity and tooth decay, began linking sugar consumption to developmental risks, despite lacking direct evidence that it affects height or growth hormones. What started as a cautionary note evolved into a culturally embedded child development folklore.