Energy drinks can increase the risk of physical and mental health problems in children, a major scientific study has found.
Children who consume these drinks, which can contain more caffeine than a cup of coffee, are more likely to be overweight and have heart problems.
They are also more likely to suffer from mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression and suicide attempts.
Other dangers included poor sleep quality, ADHD symptoms and severe stress.
Scientists sifting through dozens of studies warned that sales of the “harmful” drinks, advertised for just 25 cents, should be limited to children.
Drinks such as Red Bull, Prime and Monster can contain up to 150 mg of caffeine.
For comparison: a 250 ml cup of coffee contains approximately 90 mg.
Energy drinks can also contain up to 21 teaspoons of sugar, making children who drink them more susceptible to weight gain.
The study, by experts from Teesside University and Newcastle University, looked at data from 57 studies to investigate its effect on children.
More than 1.2 million young people, aged nine to 21, from 21 countries participated in the studies.
Results, published in the journal Public Health, show that boys consume energy drinks more often than girls.
Findings showed that the drinks were linked to a higher risk of poor physical health, such as a higher-than-average body mass index (BMI), heart rhythm problems and high blood pressure.
Young people who consumed energy drinks were more likely to have poor mental health and suffer from anxiety, depression, eating disorders and suicide attempts.
Some of the studies included in the review also highlighted that the group was at greater risk of unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, vaping and poor sleep quality.
Other worrisome side effects included a higher risk of asthma, frequent urination and tooth decay.
People who reported drinking alcohol mixed with an energy drink were more likely to have bad grades, drink and drive and use drugs than those who drank energy drinks alone.
Two of the studies found a link between energy drinks and improved exercise performance. However, the researchers said these studies were limited by sample size.
The study did not name any brands or reveal how much risk young energy drinkers faced compared to those who did not drink the drinks.
The team noted that the review was observational and so could not determine that energy drinks were responsible for the knock-on effects they found. For example, it could be that energy drinks are popular among groups that are already in poor health.
However, the researchers suggested that the effects could be due to the caffeine content, which, when combined with sugar and other stimulant properties, could hinder the health of children and young people.
Dr. Shelina Visram, a public health expert from the University of Newcastle and co-author of the study, said: ‘We are deeply concerned by the findings that energy drinks can lead to psychological and mental health problems.
“These are important public health issues that need to be addressed.
“Despite government concerns and public consultations, there is no policy in this area. It’s time we take action against the fastest growing sector of the soft drinks market.”
Professor Amelia Lake, professor of public health nutrition at Teesside University, said: ‘We have been raising concerns about the health effects of these drinks for almost a decade after discovering them being marketed to children as young as ten. -old for only 25 cents. That’s cheaper than bottled water.
‘The evidence is clear that energy drinks are harmful to the mental and physical health of children and young people, as well as their behavior and education.
“We must act now to protect them from these risks.”
Previous research has found that up to a third of children in Britain drink energy drinks every week – a higher percentage than any other country in Europe.
Several energy drinks available for purchase in UK stores contain more than double the caffeine content of an average cup of coffee (80mg).
Countries such as Lithuania and Latvia have already regulated energy drinks by banning their sale to under-18s.
In Britain, regulations state that any energy drink containing more than 150 mg of caffeine must be labeled as high caffeine.
The government outlined plans to ban the sale of energy drinks to under-16s in 2019, but this policy was never implemented during the Covid pandemic.
In 2022, Wales launched its own consultation on a ban for under-16s.
However, many major retailers and soft drink companies voluntarily ban the sale of caffeinated energy drinks to children.
The NHS advises that energy drinks should not be consumed by young children.
The study did not name any brands or reveal how much risk young energy drinkers faced compared to those who did not drink the drinks.
Previous research has found that up to a third of children in Britain drink energy drinks every week – a higher proportion than any other country in Europe
Last May, a child had a ‘heart attack’ and had to have his stomach pumped after drinking Prime Energy. This led to a school warning parents about the ‘harmful effects’ of the drink.
Prime was launched last year by YouTube icons KSI and Logan Paul. The couple has millions of followers online.
The hype surrounding the products on social media led to the products quickly selling out in supermarkets, leading to huge queues and rules over how much each customer could buy.
Commenting on the review’s findings, William Roberts, CEO of the Royal Society for Public Health, said: ‘This important review adds to the growing evidence that energy drinks can be harmful to the physical and mental health of children and young people, both in the field of health and in the field of public health. short and long term.
‘That’s why we need the UK government to make good on its 2019 pledge to ban the sale of energy drinks to under-16s.
“This would not only allow us to follow the evidence, but also follow the lead of countries that have already restricted sales to children, a move supported by the majority of the public.”
Barbara Crowther, children’s food campaigner at Sustain, a charity that advocates for better food and farming, said: ‘It is not right for companies to profit from energy drinks when the evidence shows they harm the health of children and young people.
“These disturbing findings should prompt our government to take action. But they have been disappointingly silent on this issue for the past five years.
‘In that time, energy drink companies have increasingly targeted young people with drinks with even higher caffeine content, putting more and more of them at risk.
“We need our government to take action and go ahead with the planned restriction of the sale of these drinks to under-16s.”