Adolescent Consumption of Sports and Energy Drinks: Linkages to Higher Physical Activity, Unhealthy Beverage Patterns, Cigarette Smoking, and Screen Media Use

Objective: To examine patterns of adolescent sports and energy drink (SED) consumption and identify behavioral correlates. Design: Data were drawn from Eating and Activity in Teens, a population-based study. Setting: Adolescents from 20 middle and high schools in Minneapolis/St Paul, MN completed classroom-administered surveys. Participants: A total of 2,793 adolescents (53.2% girls) in grades 6-12. Variables Measured: Beverage patterns; breakfast frequency; moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA); media use; sleep; and cigarette smoking. Analysis: Linear and logistic regression models were used to estimate associations between health behaviors and SED consumption, adjusting for demographics. Results: Over a third of adolescents consumed sports drinks and 14.7% consumed energy drinks at least once a week. Among boys and girls, both sports and energy drink consumption were related to higher video game use; sugar-sweetened beverage and fruit juice intake; and smoking (P <.05). Sports drink consumption was also significantly related to higher MVPA and organized sport participation for both genders (P <.01). Conclusions and Implications: Although sports drink consumption was associated with higher MVPA, adolescents should be reminded of recommendations to consume these beverages only after vigorous, prolonged activity. There is also a need for future interventions designed to reduce SED consumption, to address the clustering of unhealthy behaviors.