Pediatricians leave no room for doubt: the intake of energy drinks has negative consequences for health and their continued consumption can cause addiction, both among minors and adults, and therefore these types of drinks should under no circumstances be consumed. by children and adolescents.
This is stated by the nutrition and breastfeeding committee of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP) in a statement in which specialists in adolescent medicine, also integrated into the AEP, also remember that the consumption of these drinks "opens the door to the ingestion of other toxic substances and the promotion of addictions, since it is common for adolescents to mix energy drinks with alcohol.
With this statement, paediatricians are addressing the debate sparked by the Xunta de Galicia's bill on the prevention of addictions in minors, which aims to equate energy drinks with alcohol and prohibit their sale and consumption to minors under 18 years of age.
Pediatricians remember that many of these drinks are sold in half-liter containers and the amount of caffeine they contain is equivalent to more than two espresso coffees, in addition to containing a large amount of simple sugars.
They also confirm that there is scientific evidence that its consumption is associated with irritability, insomnia, headaches, anxiety, lack of concentration and metabolic and cardiovascular pathologies, such as tachycardia or increased blood pressure. And they emphasize that they are substances that generate tolerance if consumed regularly, leading to addiction. "Therefore, they should not be consumed in pediatric age," they state bluntly.
Child health specialists remind families that "the drink par excellence for children and adolescents is water," and advise avoiding sugary drinks or, at least, consuming them in very small quantities and sporadically.
Pediatricians propose that, given that the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the world are related to unhealthy lifestyles, a subject on healthy lifestyles should be introduced into the school curriculum so that children learn to cook, plan their menu, to practice physical activity... "Healthy lifestyles acquired in pediatric age are health insurance throughout the life cycle," they emphasize.
