Energy drinks are a popular option for Burlingame students looking for a quick energy boost, but few realize the potential effects these drinks can have on the body.
In recent years, energy drinks have surged in popularity due to marketing, appealing flavors, and accessibility. A review in the International Journal of Health Sciences found that in the United States, energy drinks are the second most commonly used food supplement among teenagers, with approximately 30% consuming them regularly.
At Burlingame, many students consume energy drinks to boost their energy for schoolwork, sports, or other activities. Health teacher Malcom Davis said he noticed this trend among students.
“Energy drinks are causing young teens to be addicted from an early age and rely on energy drinks to give them energy when, in reality, being 14 to 18 is going to be some of the times where you’ll be the most alert and have a lot of natural energy,” Davis said.
Senior Gaelle Anne Foy said she regularly consumes energy drinks because they help her get through the school day.
“I drink Celsius and recently tried Bloom,” Foy said. “When I wake up in the morning, I’m really tired, and they help me get through the day and be really energized. It does give me a little bit of anxiety, but I feel it gives me a lot of energy and gets me through the day.”
Meanwhile, sophomore Donovan Merriman said he would consider drinking energy drinks if needed.
“They taste good and sometimes you need that high caffeine if you need more focus when you’re tired,” Merriman said.
The growing consumption of energy drinks has led many students to view the quick burst of energy as beneficial for fighting fatigue and staying active. However, Tara Schmidt, a registered nutritionist at Mayo Clinic, said there are risks from over-dependence on these drinks.
“You have this big boost of caffeine, and then what’s going to happen when you calm down? Agitation is a potential long-term effect of chronic exposure to stimulants,” Schmidt said. “I wanted people to know that caffeine, as the drug, is metabolized differently by everyone. We don’t always know the safety or the impact that caffeine is going to have on someone.”
A study published in PubMed Central found that adolescents aged 13-19 are the predominant consumer group in the energy drink industry. The researchers noted that safe caffeine levels have yet to be determined, but they should not exceed 100 mg per day. However, most energy drinks contain more than 160 mg of caffeine.
In addition, Bonnie Jortberg, professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, said teenage boys’ brains may be especially susceptible to the effects of energy drinks.
“That’s really an important aspect, especially for teenage boys, because teenage girls have the front part of the frontal cortex of their brain well developed by the time that they’re teenagers, but boys do not, and we certainly know that alcohol, marijuana, other drugs really inhibit that frontal cortex brain development in these teenage years,” Jortberg said.
While the long-term effects of energy drinks remain unclear, some studies suggest they may affect mood and behavior.
“There’s been research that leads to more aggressive and behavioral problems for teenagers if they’re consuming several energy drinks every day,” Jortberg said.
In an article from the University of California, Los Angeles Health, Dr. Michael Garcia said that energy drinks can cause side effects such as increased heart rate, insomnia, and a sudden energy crash.
“It’s hard to break that cycle, which may lead to withdrawal symptoms like a headache or depressed mood,” Garcia said.
