Abstract
Objectives: To describe the intake of energy drinks (EDs) among a sample of Swedish adolescents while considering health-related variables, and to investigate the longitudinal associations between ED consumption, health, and norm-breaking behavior. Longitudinal studies on this topic are scarce.Methods: Questionnaire data were collected in the northern part of Sweden in 2010–2011 from 1,622 adolescents in grades 6–9. Analyses were performed using a chi-squared test and logistic regression.Results: Seventy-four percent of the boys and 54% of the girls had consumed EDs (P < 0.001). ED consumption was associated with variables related to low health, low support levels, and norm-breaking behavior. The associations were generally stronger among the girls and the boys who consumed EDs at least once a week. ED consumption was a predictor of worse health and norm-breaking behavior 1 year later. Adjusted odds ratios ranged from 1.53 (95% CI: 1.07, 2.20; school-related stress) to 4.88 (95% CI: 2.28, 10.43; gaming-related truancy).Conclusions: Health promotion activities benefit from a broad approach but could focus on girls who consume EDs and those boys with the highest consumption levels.
Highlights
There is no evidence that limited consumption of energy drinks (EDs) is harmful, and the associated health risks are mostly related to the caffeine content [1]
All investigated health-related and norm-breaking behavior variables were associated with ED consumption among the girls
Low levels of parental and teacher support were associated with ED consumption, as was the case with all of the norm-breaking behavior variables and health-related variables except for deliberate self-harm
Summary
There is no evidence that limited consumption of energy drinks (EDs) is harmful, and the associated health risks are mostly related to the caffeine content [1]. There have been reports of intoxication from excessive ED consumption [2, 3]. Adolescents have reported adverse events after ED consumption, such as headache and sleeping problems [5, 6]. EDs can be described as soft drinks that contain sweeteners (whether they be sugar or artificial), caffeine, taurine, d-glucuronolactone, and B-vitamins [7, 8]. Caffeine is Adolescents’ Energy Drink Consumption a stimulant that acts on the central nervous system. Caffeine intake >400 mg could cause caffeine intoxication with serious negative health effects, especially among subgroups with cardiac or psychiatric conditions [9]. Limited amounts of caffeine are generally considered harmless, even for children and adolescents who have lower body mass and less tolerance [9]
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