SCHOOLCHILDREN in the US should steer clear of energy drinks, and go easy on the calorie-rich sports drinks too, the warned this week. The academy鈥檚 report is the latest attack in the battle to stop children consuming 鈥渆mpty calories鈥� from sweet drinks in school vending machines.
Although the drinks industry agreed to phase out sugar-rich sodas in 2006, this has been offset by a surge in the consumption of sports and energy drinks. 鈥淲e know caffeine and other stimulants in energy drinks raise blood pressure, cause insomnia and can be addictive,鈥� says Marcie Schneider of the academy鈥檚 Committee on Nutrition, and co-author of the report (Pediatrics, ). 鈥淭here is no reason for a child to consume an energy drink,鈥� she says.
聯There is no reason for a child or a teenager to be consuming an energy drink聰
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The report warns that some energy drinks contain more than 500 milligrams of caffeine, the same as in 14 cans of soda. Sports drinks are also unnecessary in schools except following prolonged sessions of an hour or more, says Schneider.
