If your child is chugging energy drinks during breaks in the action, the habit could be contributing to a variety of mental health issues including ADHD, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and depression.
Or so says an analysis of 57 different studies looking at more than 1.2 million kids and young people who regularly drank energy drinks.
The latest review is actually a follow-up to a previous meta-analysis, and researchers behind the new research said it not only confirms the previous results (from 2016), it reveals even bigger problems.
Their research revealed “an even greater list of mental and physical health outcomes associated with children and young people consuming energy drinks,” said lead author Amelia Lake, professor of public health nutrition at Teesside University in the UK.
Caffeine levels are especially high in energy drinks, which is of course a principle reason for the ‘energy’ jolt that people receive when drinking them. While some countries have already banned energy drink sales to kids, Lake and her fellow researchers have called for a global ban on sales to anyone under 16.
Compared to caffeine levels of 90mg in a cup of coffee or 50mg in a cup of tea, caffeine levels in energy drinks can run from 50mg to a stunning 505mg per serving. Yet even small amounts of caffeine can impact a child’s sleep, leading to all manner of cognitive issues.
