LK!
It’s No “Bull” – Kids & Energy Drinks Don’t Mix Bob Rauner, MD MPH, & Julie Pearson Anderson, Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln
D
id you know that energy drinks can be dangerous— even fatal—for kids 18 years old and younger? Learn the facts about kids and energy drinks.
FACT: Energy Drink Ingredients and Kids To quote the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Rigorous review and analysis of the literature reveal that caffeine and other stimulant substances contained in
• Focus on social & emotional development, giving your child a great start • Classrooms led by educated and experienced teachers • Kindergarten-readiness curriculum • Behavioral specialist on staff • Enrolling children 6 weeks to 12 years • NEW Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom • Extended hours: 6:30 am - 6:00 pm
402-434-5437 | cedarskids.org
Page 22 • LincolnKidsInc.com
energy drinks have no place in the diet of children and adolescents.” Stimulant substances like guarana or taurine have not been tested for safety in children. There is also evidence that the combination of sugar and caffeine is addictive, with one substance increasing the craving for the other. If kids get started on energy drinks early on, they may be hooked for life. Worse, consumption of energy drinks by young children and over-consumption by teens have been linked to heart attacks, seizures, and even death.
FACT: Energy Drinks, Sugar, and Childhood Obesity On a typical day, 80% of youth drink sugar-sweetened beverages— up to 20% of the total calories they consume. The liquid calories from sugar sweetened beverages like soda and energy drinks account for about half of the childhood obesity epidemic. Children are now being diagnosed with obesity-related chronic conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, that once only afflicted adults. The obesity epidemic will likely cut the life expectancy of our children by an average of five years. What’s it take to burn off the calories in those energy drinks? If a kid weighing about 70 pounds consumes a 12 ounce regular energy drink, he or she would have to walk 5 miles or put in about 40 minutes of vigorous exercise to burn off the calories.
FACT: Kids and Diet Energy Drinks Studies to date have shown that switching to diet drinks doesn’t result in weight loss. Even worse, many show that the opposite happens; drinking diet energy and other artificially sweetened drinks is associated with gaining weight. The conclusion of several studies is that artificial sweeteners make you hungry. So, although the diet energy drinks have no or fewer calories, they make kids feel hungry and crave sweets, which can lead to bad snack choices and overeating.
FACT: Energy Drinks and Young Athletes Energy drinks are often used by students to provide an extra boost in energy. However, the stimulants in these drinks can have a harmful effect on the nervous system. The National Federation of State High School Associations recommends that young athletes should not use energy drinks for hydration, and information about the potential risk should be widely distributed to young athletes.
FACT: Energy Drinks, Alcohol and Kids Underage drinking is always dangerous, but a popular trend among teens to mix alcohol with energy drinks increases the danger. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2015, 13% percent of students in grades 8, 10, and 12 reported consuming alcohol mixed with energy drinks at least once in the past year. Studies have found: 1) those who
binge drink are more than twice as likely to mix alcohol with energy drinks as non-binge drinkers, 2) drinkers aged 15 to 23 who mix alcohol with energy drinks are four times more likely to binge drink at high intensity, and 3) drinkers who mix alcohol with energy drinks are more likely to report unwanted or unprotected sex, driving drunk, riding with a driver who was intoxicated, or sustaining alcohol-related injuries. Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln promotes healthy weights and safe beverage choices for kids. Learn more at HealthyLincoln. org/kidsandenergydrinks.