Pages

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Energy drinks 'can make children pile on pounds' because they're not active enough

Energy drinks have up to 14 times more caffeine than other soft drinks, study finds.

Children given energy drinks could pile on the pounds because they are not active enough to burn off the extra calories, warn doctors.

They say energy drinks – which contain between 10 and 270 calories a serving – should never be given to children.

Instead they should be offered water to quench their thirst, and drink the recommended daily amount of fruit juice and low-fat milk with meals.


Caffeine loaded: Doctors are warning against giving children energy drinks which contain stimulants linked to diabetes, heart problems, behaviour problems and even early death

A hidden problem with energy drinks is caffeine, which can reach toxic levels up to 14 times greater than in other soft drinks. The stimulant has been linked to seizures, diabetes, heart problems and behavioural disorders.

Children’s doctors are renewing warnings about energy drinks, and the potential harm from sports drinks, following an expert report by members of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Committee on Nutrition.

Dr Holly Benjamin, a lead author of the report, and a doctor at the Comer Children’s Hospital, part of the University of Chicago, said: ‘For most children engaging in routine physical activity, plain water is best.’

She said most children’s activity levels are too low to burn off calorie-laden drinks that ‘children don’t need, and could contribute to obesity and tooth decay’. Dr Marcie Beth Schneider, joint lead author of the report who practises adolescent and paediatric medicine in Connecticut, said: ‘There is a lot of confusion about sports drinks and energy drinks and adolescents are often unaware of the differences.

‘Some kids are drinking energy drinks – containing large amounts of caffeine – when their goal is simply to rehydrate after exercise. This means they are ingesting large amounts of caffeine and other stimulants, which can be dangerous.

‘In many cases it can be hard to tell how much caffeine is in a product by looking at the label.

‘Some cans or bottles of energy drinks can have more than 500mg of caffeine, which is the equivalent of 14 cans of soda.’
'DANGER DRINKS'

The study published in the journal, Paediatrics, highlights these energy and sports drinks:

Red Bull
Monster
Rockstar
All Sport
Gatorade
Powerade

Among the energy brands highlighted in the report were Red Bull, Monster and Rockstar. Sports drinks included All Sport, Gatorade and Powerade.

In February, U.S. doctors warned of health risks from energy drinks and said they should be regulated ‘like alcohol and tobacco’.

Their report, published in the journal Pediatrics, also said: ‘Sports and energy drinks are being marketed to children and adolescents for a wide variety of inappropriate uses.

‘The caloric content of sports drinks is 10 to 70 calories per serving, and the caloric content of energy drinks ranges from 10 to 270 calories per serving.

‘In general, there is little need for carbohydrate-containing beverages other than the recommended daily intake of fruit juice and low-fat milk.

‘Routine ingestion of carbohydrate-containing sports drinks by children and adolescents should be avoided or restricted.

‘Intake can lead to excessive caloric consumption and an increased risk of obesity as well as dental erosion.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1392634/Doctors-warn-giving-energy-drinks-children-claiming-contain-toxic-levels-caffeine.html#ixzz1O080LwMv

No comments:

Post a Comment