Energy drinks, intended to boost the body and concentration, are increasingly consumed by young people. This industry weighing more than $ 30 billion today is not without consequences for health. Headaches, nausea, insomnia, convulsions, anxiety, cardiac abnormalities… Adverse reactions due to an overdose of caffeine are more and more widespread and increase in particular in adolescents. Australian researchers have explored young people’s knowledge of this type of drink, the factors influencing their consumption and the strategies to be put in place to reduce it. Their findings are published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.
Lack of knowledge
For this study, 41 people, aged 12 to 25 were interviewed. 73% had previously consumed energy drinks, some of them in large quantities. A discussion guide was constructed and eight group interviews of 30 to 50 minutes were conducted. by the same mediator.
The researchers observed that the participants had poor knowledge of energy drinks. Generally, the participants knew that these drinks contained caffeine and sugar, but they could not name other ingredients and how they acted on the body. Volunteers reported easier accessibility to energy drinks. The first reason that prompts them to drink it is the “energizing” character of the drink, then the taste. This same taste is a deterrent for others.
Strategies to put in place
Learn the exact composition of these drinks as well as their health effects were new deterrents. Indeed, many of these young people reported having experienced certain physiological disorders or knew someone who had had them following heavy use. Participants noted that advertisements, promotions and free handouts of energy drinks encouraged them to drink them.
Following the group discussions, the volunteers raised five main points in order to reduce the consumption of young people. We should increase restrictions on the sale and accessibility of the product, then increase the prices and change the packaging. Then it would be essential to reduce the visibility of the products in points of sale and of course make young people aware of their effects.
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