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.