Daily Sports Drink Consumption Down in US Teenagers

HealthDay News — Teenagers’ weekly consumption of sports drinks increased from 2010 to 2015, although daily consumption declined for most teens, according to a study published online May 7 in Pediatrics.

Kyla Cordrey, from the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York in Lake Success, and colleagues evaluated data from the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey and 2010 National Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey to assess U.S. high school students’ sports drink consumption. 

The researchers found that sports drink consumption in the previous week increased from 57.6% in 2010 to 59.9% in 2015 (P=.0002). However, for daily sports drink consumption, there were reductions for all age groups, sexes, race and/or ethnicity categories, and levels of physical activity. While the greatest reductions in consumption were seen among non-Hispanic African-Americans and overweight children, daily sports drink consumption did not decrease for children with obesity and increased for children who watched more than 2 hours per day of television.

“Although daily consumption of sports drinks has decreased overall, sugar-sweetened sports drinks remain popular, with the majority of high school students drinking them at least weekly,” the authors write. “Pediatricians should counsel adolescents about the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations regarding sports drinks.”

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)