Alarming High Levels of Energy Drinks Consumption among School Children in Hail, Northern of Saudi Arabia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4247.2015.04.01.1Keywords:
Energy drinks, School children, Lifestyle Behaviors.Abstract
Saudi Arabia (KSA) is one among the countries for top energy drink markets. Amid growing controversies globally surrounding the increasing usage of energy drinks by children, it is felt important to understand how these trends are reflected in KSA. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to explore the trends of energy drink consumption among, and differences between, middle and secondary school children, and the associated socioeconomic and behavioral factors. Randomly selected 1006 male children from secondary and middle schools from Hail region in KSA were included in the study, using a self-administered validated questionnaire. Results revealed that about 60% of school children were current energy drink consumers. Secondary school children were significantly (P<0.001) higher than middle schoolers in terms of both frequency and quantity. Concomitantly, unhealthy dietary and lifestyle behaviors were reported in significantly higher proportions (P<0.001) among secondary school children. Home was the first place for exposure for majority of children while unreliable resources were the major sources of knowledge about energy drink composition and health effects. Poor knowledge concerning energy drink composition was reported. Taste and being energized were the major driving forces for energy drink consumption. Higher disposable income on hand and poor lifestyle behaviors were all significantly associated with energy drink consumption. It can be concluded that high proportion of energy drink consumption was reported among school children in Hail, with higher proportions in secondary than middle schools. This matter raises the significance of mounting awareness of community concerning the ingredients and potential hazards of energy drinks.
References
Reissig CJ, Strain EC, Griffiths RR. Caffeinated energy drinks. A growing problem. Drug Alcohol Depen 2009; 99: 1-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2008.08.001
Heckman MA, Sherry K, Gonzalez de ME. Energy drinks: an assessment of their market size, consumer demographics, ingredient profile, functionality, and regulations in the United States. Compr Rev Food Sci F 2010; 9: 303-17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-4337.2010.00111.x
Babu KM, Church RJ, Lewander W. Energy drinks: the new eye-opener for adolescents. Clin Pediatr Emerg Med 2008; 9: 35-42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cpem.2007.12.002
Temple JL. Caffeine use in children: what we know, what we have left to learn, and why we should worry. Neurosci Biobehav R 2009; 33: 793-806. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2009.01.001
Azagba S, Langille D, Asbridge M. An emerging adolescent health risk: caffeinated energy drink consumption patterns among high school students. Prev Med 2014; 62: 54-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2014.01.019
Pennington N, Johnson M, Delaney E, et al. Energy drinks: a new health hazard for adolescents. J Sch Nurs 2010; 5: 352-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1059840510374188
Seifert SM, Schaechter JL, Hershorin ER, et al. Health effects of energy drinks on children, adolescents, and young adults. Pediatrics 2011; 127: 511-28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2009-3592
Macdonald N, Stanbrook M, Hébert PC. “Caffeinating” children and youth. Can Med Assoc J 2010; 182: 1597. http://dx.doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.100953
Higgins JP, Tuttle TD, Higgins CL. Energy beverages: content and safety. Mayo Clin Proc 2010; 85: 1033-41. http://dx.doi.org/10.4065/mcp.2010.0381
Smith HJ, Rogers PJ. Effects of ‘energy’ drinks on mood and mental performance: critical methodology. Food Qual Prefer 2002; 13: 317-26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0950-3293(02)00044-7
Peacock A, Martin FH, Carr A. Energy drink ingredients. Contribution of caffeine and taurine to performance outcomes. Appetite 2013; 64: 1- 4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2012.12.021
Ahluwalia N, Herrick K, Moshfegh A, Rybak M. Caffeine intake in children in the United States and 10-y trends: 2001-2010. Am J Clin Nutr 2014; 100: 1124-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.113.082172
Owens JA, Mindell J, Baylor A. Effect of energy drink and caffeinated beverage consumption on sleep, mood, and performance in children and adolescents. Nutr Rev 2014; 72(Suppl): 65-71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nure.12150
Sorkin BC, Camp KM, Haggans CJ, et al. Executive summary of NIH workshop on the use and biology of energy drinks: current knowledge and critical gaps. Nutr Rev 2014; 72(Suppl 1): 1-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nure.12154
Miller KE. Wired: Energy drinks, jock identity, masculine norms, and risk taking. J Am Coll Health 2008; 56: 481-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.3200/JACH.56.5.481-490
Bunting H, Baggett A, Grigor J. Adolescent and young adult perceptions of caffeinated energy drinks: a qualitative approach. Appetite 2013; 65: 132-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2013.02.011
Glade MJ. Caffeine-not just a stimulant. Nutrition 2010; 26: 932-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2010.08.004
Global Energy Drinks Report 2012. Accessed on June, 10, 2013. http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/2105825/ global_energy_drinks report_2012
Aluqmany R, Mansoor U, Saad R, et al. Consumption of energy drinks among female secondary school students, Almadinah Almunawwarah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. J Taibah Univ Med Sci 2013; 8: 60-5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtumed.2013.01.009
Alsunni AA, Badar A. Energy drinks consumption pattern, perceived benefits and associated adverse effects amongst students of university of Dammam, Saudi Arabia. J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad 2011; 23: 3-9.
Al Buhairan F, Tamim H, Tamimi W, et al. Dietary patterns and weight status of Saudi Arabian adolescents. J Adolesc Health 2012; 50: S59-S60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2011.10.160
Faris MAIE. Patterns of caffeinated energy drinks consumption among adolescents and adults in Hail, Saudi Arabia. Food Nutr Sci 2014; 5: 158-68. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/fns.2014.52021
Attila S, Cakir B. Energy-drink consumption in college students and associated factors. Nutrition 2011; 27: 316-22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2010.02.008
Gallimberti L, Buja A, Chindamo S, et al. Energy drink consumption in children and early adolescents. Eur J Pediatr 2013; 172: 1335-40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00431-013-2036-1
Zucconi S, Volpato C, Adinolfi F, et al. Gathering consumption data on specific consumer groups of energy drinks. European Food Safety Authority. Accessed on 20/12/2014. http://www.efsa.europa.eu
Saudi Arabia bans the free distribution of energy drinks to consumers of all age groups. News published in AlArabiya.net, March 5, 2014. Accessed on 20/12/2014. http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/03/03/Saudi-bans-sale-promotion-of-energy-drinks.html
O’Dea JA. Consumption of nutritional supplements among adolescents: usage and perceived benefits. Health Educ Res 2003; 18: 98-107. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/her/18.1.98
Committee on Nutrition and the Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness. Sports drinks and energy drinks for children and adolescents: are they appropriate? Pediatrics 2011; 127: 1182-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-0965
Pettit ML, DeBarr KA. Perceived stress, energy drink consumption, and academic performance among college students. J Am Coll Health 2011; 59: 335-41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2010.510163
Rath M. Energy drinks: what is all the hype? The dangers of energy drink consumption. J Am Acad Nurse Prac 2012; 24: 70-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-7599.2011.00689.x
Al Hazzaa HM, Abahussain NA, Al-Sobaye HA, et al. Physical activity, sedentary behaviors and dietary habits among Saudi adolescents relative to age, gender and region. Int J Behav Nutr Phy 2011; 8: 140. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-8-140
Rush E, Schulz S, Obolonkin V, Simmons D, Plank L. Are energy drinks contributing to the obesity epidemic? Asian Pac J Clin Nutr 2006; 15: 242-4.
Miller KE. Energy drinks, race, and problem behaviors among college students. J Adolescent Health 2008; 43: 490-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.03.003
Martin CA, Cook C, Woodring JH, Burkhardt G, Guenthner G, Omar HA, Kelly TH. Caffeine use: association with nicotine use, aggression, and other psychopathology in psychiatric and pediatric outpatient adolescents. Sci World J 2008; 22: 512-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2008.82
Lohsoonthorn V, Khidir H, Casillas G, et al. Sleep quality and sleep patterns in relation to consumption of energy drinks, caffeinated beverages, and other stimulants among Thai college students. Sleep Breath 2013; 17: 1017-28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11325-012-0792-1
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Policy for Journals/Articles with Open Access
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post links to their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work
Policy for Journals / Manuscript with Paid Access
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Publisher retain copyright .
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post links to their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work .