Sports Drinks and Energy Drinks Contribute to Obesity and Health Risks in Children and Teenagers

Researchers have warned that sports drinks and energy drinks contribute to obesity and health risks in children and teenagers. The beverages, often promoted as essential for hydration and performance, contain extra calories that children do not need. While adolescent athletes engaged in vigorous physical activity may benefit from the carbohydrates and electrolytes provided by sports drinks, researchers said water should be the beverage of choice for hydration.

Key Takeaways:

• Sports drinks contain extra calories that children don't need, contributing to obesity and health risks.
• Energy drinks can damage children and adolescents' neurologic and cardiovascular systems and should not be consumed.
• Obesity in children and adolescents ages 2 to 19 rose to almost 17 percent in 2007-08 from 5 percent in 1971-1974.
• Some energy drinks have more than 500 milligrams of caffeine, equivalent to 14 cans of soda.
• About 28 percent of children ages 12 to 14 regularly consume energy drinks.
• Energy drink sales totaled $7.7 billion in 2010, with a 7.5 percent rise in sports drinks sales to $7 billion.
• The authors recommended physicians educate children and parents on differences between sports and energy drinks and the potential health risks.
• Some kids are drinking energy drinks when their goal is simply to rehydrate after exercise, leading to large amounts of caffeine and other stimulants.
• Elementary and middle schools have banned soft-drink sales, but sports drinks, diet soda, and flavored waters are still sold at high schools.

Statistics:

• Obesity in children and adolescents ages 2 to 19 rose to almost 17 percent in 2007-08 from 5 percent in 1971-1974.
• Energy drink sales totaled $7.7 billion in 2010.
• About $7 billion, a 7.5 percent rise, was spent on sports drinks in 2010.
• Energy drink sales increased by 8.9 percent from the year earlier in 2010.
• About 28 percent of children ages 12 to 14 regularly consume energy drinks.
• Rockstar energy drink has 80 mg of caffeine per 8 ounces, more than twice the amount in the same-sized serving of Coca-Cola.

Sources:

• Bloomberg News, "Sports drinks aren't necessary for children and teenagers: researcher"
• Pediatrics, "For Most Children Engaging in Routine Physical Activity, Plain Water Is Best"
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Obesity: Overweight and Obesity Statistics"
• Beverage Digest, "Energy Drinks and Sports Drinks"
• American Beverage Association, "Nutrition, Hydration, and Sports Performance"