Study Links Energy Drink Consumption to Unhealthy Lifestyles in Teens

Energy drinks may promise a boost, but for adolescents, the risks appear to run far deeper.

A new study presented at the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) 2025 has found that schoolchildren who consume energy drinks have significantly unhealthier lifestyles. Plus, they have higher cardiovascular risk profiles compared to their peers who avoid them.

The findings, based on data from the ongoing Hand-aufs-Herz (Hand-on-Heart) study in the greater Munich area, highlight growing public health concerns over the popularity of energy drinks among children and adolescents.

Who’s consuming energy drinks?

The study analyzed preliminary data from 834 schoolchildren, with a mean age of 13.5 years. Notably, energy drink consumers in the group were:

• Mostly boys (nearly 60 percent)

• Older than non-consumers (average age 14.3 vs 12.3 years)

• Had higher Body Mass Index or BMI (20.4 vs 18.5 kg/m²)

These indicators already show a divergence in cardiovascular risk factors between young drinkers and non-drinkers.

(Source: ESPGHAN 2025, abstract RF093)

Diet, sleep, and overall lifestyle take a hit

Children who consumed energy drinks also scored poorly in other areas critical to long-term health:

• 39.2 percent of energy drink consumers had poor nutrition, compared to 27.2 percent of non-drinkers

• 55.1 percent failed to meet recommended sleep durations, versus 34.6 percent of non-drinkers

• 25.8 percent were classified as having an unhealthy overall lifestyle, double the 11.5 percent rate among those who didn’t consume energy drinks

These findings suggest that regular energy drink use may be part of a broader pattern of unhealthy behaviors.

(Source: Hand-aufs-Herz study, LMU Munich)

A troubling link to addictive behaviors

Perhaps most alarming, the study revealed strong associations between energy drink intake and substance use:

• 20.3 percent of consumers reported smoking (vs 0.7 percent)

• 35.8 percent reported vaping (vs 2.3 percent)

• 15.9 percent reported using shisha (vs 1 percent)

• 57.8 percent reported alcohol use (vs 12.5 percent)

This suggests that energy drink consumption in adolescence may correlate with a higher risk of engaging in other potentially harmful or addictive behaviors.

Marketing hype vs Medical reality

The widespread appeal of energy drinks is fueled by marketing that promises increased alertness, mental sharpness, and enhanced athletic performance. According to data from the NOMISMA-ARETÉ Consortium for the European Food Safety Authority, energy drink consumption is highest among adolescents (68 percent), while 18 percent of children also report consuming them.

However, experts warn that the short-term buzz comes with long-term risks.

Numerous studies have documented energy drinks’ potential to trigger:

• Cardiovascular complications

• Sleep disturbances

• Heightened nervous system activity

• Risk of caffeine overdose

• Dependency and addiction

In fact, a 2007 U.S. report cited 5,448 caffeine overdose cases, with 46 percent involving individuals under 19 years old.

(Source: Pediatrics 2011;127:511-528)

Should energy drinks be regulated?

Given the growing evidence, researchers from the University Hospital, LMU Munich are calling for clearer public health messaging and potential consumption guidelines aimed at children and adolescents. They also emphasize the need for further longitudinal studies to confirm the lasting health effects of early energy drink use.

“The findings demonstrate that frequent consumption of energy drinks is associated with an unhealthier lifestyle and an overall increased cardiovascular risk,” the researchers noted in their ESPGHAN 2025 poster presentation.

Final thoughts

Energy drinks may seem harmless or even helpful on the surface. But for young individuals, especially those under 18, the mounting data suggests otherwise. With potential links to poor diet, inadequate sleep, substance use, and long-term heart risks, it’s time to rethink the role these beverages play in children’s lives.

Parents, educators, and policymakers alike should consider these findings a wake-up call. Until stricter regulations or age guidelines are in place, awareness and education remain our best defense.