The most comprehensive study of its kind, published in the UK’s Public Health journal, has found that drinking energy drinks is associated with an increased risk of mental health issues among children and young people, including anxiety, stress, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
It also links consumption of the drinks with an increased risk of poor academic performance, sleep problems, and unhealthy dietary habits.
Researchers from Fuse, the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, at Teesside University and Newcastle University, looked at data from 57 studies of over 1.2 million children and young people from more than 21 countries.
The new study adds to the growing body of evidence that energy drinks are harmful to the health of children and young people. The researchers say it highlights the need for regulatory action to restrict the sale and marketing of energy drinks to children and young people.
Lead author Amelia Lake, Professor of Public Health Nutrition from Fuse, the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health at Teesside University, said: “Energy drinks are marketed to children and young people as a way to improve energy and performance, but our findings suggest that they are actually doing more harm than good.”
&uuid=(email))